CARSON, Calif.KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Mike Magee scored the go-ahead goal on a pass from David Beckham in the 58th minute, and Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane also scored as the Los Angeles Galaxy advanced to the MLS Cup with a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake on Sunday night in the Western Conference final.
With spectacular plays from their trio of superstars, Los Angeles advanced to face the Houston Dynamo in the MLS title game Nov. 20 at Home Depot Center, where the Supporters’ Shield-winning Galaxy haven’t lost all year.
Beckham will play for his first MLS title in the final game of his groundbreaking five-year contract with the Galaxy. His crossing pass set up Magee’s third goal of the postseason for Los Angeles, which advanced to its record seventh MLS title game.
Alvaro Saborio scored for Salt Lake, which beat Los Angeles for the 2009 MLS Cup.
Beckham left Thursday’s playoff victory over New York with back spasms, but played well to extend his MLS tenure for at least two weeks. Beckham is in the midst of his best MLS season with rumors swirling about his future, but he served up yet another phenomenal scoring pass to Magee and several additional chances before leaving to a standing ovation from the crowd of 23,437 in stoppage time.
Donovan scored his MLS-best 19th playoff goal on a first-half penalty kick, and Keane made a stellar run in the 68th minute for the Irish striker’s fourth goal in 10 games with his new team.
The Galaxy had MLS’s best regular-season record for the second straight year, but it finally added playoff success after falling short in the postseason in the past two seasons. Los Angeles is 14-0-5 at home in MLS games this season after two playoff wins, along with three CONCACAF Champions League victories.
Donovan scored on a penalty kick for the second straight playoff game, connecting in the 23rd minute after Omar Gonzalez drew a penalty in the box from Andy Williams, who apparently made contact with Gonzalez’s back on a header.
Dynamo 2, Sporting K.C. 0 Andre Hainault scored his second goal of the postseason in Houston’s victory.
Carlo Costly added a late insurance goal for Houston, which extended its unbeaten streak to nine and reached the league final for the first time since winning back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007.
Kansas City, which rebounded from an 0-6-1 start to finish atop the East in the regular season, has not made the title game since finishing as the runner-up in 2004.
“Three months ago, a lot of people just kind of have — I wouldn’t say cast us aside, but didn’t take us seriously,” Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said. “This is definitely a big statement to everyone who did that, that things can happen when things go well for you.”
The win also puts the Dynamo in the CONCACAF Champions League for the 2012-13 season. Houston last qualified for the competition in 2009-10.
Hainault put Houston up 1-0 in the 53rd minute, tapping in Jermaine Taylor’s headed pass after a free kick by Adam Moffat.
Taylor was a first-half injury replacement for playmaking midfielder Brad Davis. Davis, who led MLS with 16 assists this season, injured his right quadriceps trying to tackle the ball away from Sporting’s Graham Zusi in the 37th minute.
