SEATTLE — Osvaldo Alonso and Lamar Neagle scored five minutes apart early in the second half for Seattle, but Real Salt Lake advanced to the Western Conference final with a 3-2 aggregate victory over the Sounders FC on Wednesday night.
The loss ended the career of Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who previously announced he would retire after the season.
Trailing 3-0 after a loss on the road Saturday night, the Sounders turned the final 30 minutes into a frantic mess, and that came after a breakneck first half in which Seattle nearly scored on numerous occasions. But Salt Lake packed in its defense and did just enough to advance to Major League Soccer’s final four for the second time in three years. Salt Lake will face New York or Los Angeles in the conference final this weekend.
Beckham aiming for title
CARSON, Calif. — If David Beckham’s five-year soccer odyssey in the U.S. is about to end, he will go out playing at his highest level in five years.
The English star, whose groundbreaking MLS contract expires next month, hasn’t decided where he will play next season, but he’s determined to lead the Los Angeles Galaxy to a MLS championship.
“Obviously, if you look at statistics and the games I’ve played, it is the best season since I moved to L.A.,” Beckham said after the Galaxy prepared for tonight’s home leg of its playoff matchup with New York. “It’s nice to have that at 36 years old, because people start to doubt you, but it’s the best season I’ve had since I moved here.”
The Galaxy will advance with a win or draw against the Red Bulls at the Home Depot Center, where Los Angeles hasn’t lost all season.
