Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy get to play one more glorified home game. That's right, the G's get one more home game to close out their season before the 2010 MLS Cup in Toronto beckons.

On a night where clear skies gave way to a playoff atmosphere of 27,000 strong, midfielder David Beckham was the talisman in helping the Galaxy prevail 2-1 over Sigi Schmid's Seattle Sounders to win the home-and-home 3-1 on aggregate.

“We heard for a week before we played them how happy they were to play us in this series," said team captain Landon Donovan, "and my guess is that they probably have some different feelings now.”

“It’s obviously a very good win for our team," Arena said after the match. "I thought we played very well in the first half. The second half, we were a little bit sloppy in the last 20 minutes.

"If we had been a little smarter, a little sharper, perhaps we would have gotten that third goal and really killed the game. Give Seattle credit, they never quit. They came at us right until the end. It was a tough battle for 95 minutes.”

For the most part, it was a solid performance by the backline until late in the contest, when the Sounders were able to get some shots in. Indeed, Steve Zakuani was able to earn a consolation goal in the 86th minute of play.

By then, the boys in Rave Green had a tough mountain to climb after getting buried 2-0 in the first half. In the 19th minute, a free kick from David Beckham found the head of Edson Buddle to make 1-0. Eight minutes later, a corner from LA's No. 23 found Omar Gonzalez for his third of the year.

“Great finishes," Donovan said on the service from Beckham. "Fantastic service from David. This is the best David has played since he has been a Galaxy player. He is inspiring everyone with the way he is running, the way he is defending, with the way he is talking on the field and leading. He has been fantastic.”

Gonzalez agreed with the sentiment.

“David does wonders with the ball," Gonzalez said. "so it is just great having him on this team. He really showed everyone why he is here.”

“Obviously, it is what I have done for many years," Beckham said, "but it is important to me to have players to put the ball on the top of their heads or on their feet. I know that if I put the ball in the right area, we have brave enough players, we have good enough players to score goals. It worked tonight. Some other games, it hasn’t worked, but tonight it worked.”

After the match, Buddle was all smiles after the fans argued his case to be league MVP.

“It feels good," Buddle said. "At the end of the day, the league makes the decision, but it’s good that the fans recognize the way I’ve been playing.

“This season has been going pretty well, as far as scoring goals. My team is getting me the ball in the right position and it’s making my job a lot easier.”

As for Seattle, this was just a babyshambles offensively. Franchise player Fredy Montero had numerous opportunities to finish, to equalize; heck, to even lead the match and perhaps force extra time and the lottery that is the penalty shootout.

Sanna Nyassi would also been better off as a forward than a midfielder on Sunday. Schmid put him out of position and his boys pay the price for his inept play.

There was also a little bit of the hype regarding Swiss import Blaise Nkufo heading into the second leg. After the second leg, the hype turned into "Blaise Who?"

Nkufo was stonewalled by the Galaxy defense. He never a chance to make anything happen, and I personally feel his best days are behind him.

Nkufo wasn't the only one hexed by the back line. Seattle's wingers were, too.

“It is having a collection of players behind the ball and being in good blocks," Arena said. "Also, having a good understanding of where their strength is, and their strength is certainly in Zakuani and Montero, but at times, Nkufo did a decent job of coming in underneath and getting them possession and letting them advance the ball.

"There wasn’t that particular tactic as much as we had to have a good combined effort in defending which we have gotten in this series, and I think that is the way we were able to neutralize Seattle’s attack.”

“It’s the playoffs," Donovan said. "That’s what it takes. We have guys with a lot of experience in how to play in games like this. Talk about the defense all you want, but we still scored two goals and had some chance to score more.

“I watched a lot of their games at the end of the year, and that was certainly their strength. Zakuani and Nyassi were playing very well, so we knew if we took that part of their game away, we would beat them. They didn’t do as well as they had in previous games and I would attribute that to how well we played."

Not only were the Sounders snakebitten by their futile effort at finishing the simplest of chances, Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts—who survived a collision in the 49th minute of play, a testament to his durability and reliability—was clutch.

The 2010 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, for the most part, stopped shots from threats like James Riley, Montero, Zakuani, even Nate Jaqua.

When asked about leaving the game due to injury, the Big Cat from Montego Bay dismissed the idea almost immediately.

"No," Ricketts said. "I never leave games unless something is broken, so no chance. It was painful initially, but as the game went on, it got a little bit better.”

Indeed, as the match got longer, Ricketts got stronger and turned in another sensational performance. Prophetic.

“We have seen him go down before," Donovan said of Ricketts. "Like all goalies, he puts his body on the line. He is tough and when all is said and done, he is a tough guy, but also we are okay with it because we have got a guy behind him (in Josh Saunders) who could start on most teams in this league.”

“We are finishing the way we started," Ricketts added. "Strong defensively. If you want to win a championship, you have to be strong defensively, so that is good.”

I do have a few things to muse about regarding these proceedings. Alvaro Fernandez, a second-half sub for Seattle, laid a studs-up tackle on Ricketts...and didn't get carded by referee Baldomero Toledo.

Earlier in the match, Toledo carded Beckham for a challenge on Riley, which was nothing more than a slight clip.

You know, the MLS officiating has not been one to be proud of, and the home fans stand testament to the sympathetic tendencies of Toledo towards the road team.

Of course, he did issue a yellow to Patrick Ianni in the second half, but come on; he has been letting the Sounders slide a little bit more that this author would want him to.

Another issue here: the ESPN camera crew gave a little bit too much love to the Emerald City Supporters. Um, there are two other bastions of supporters that deserve to be on the same footing.

One, there's the LA Riot Squad. Two, there's the Angel City Brigade. Okay, you can even throw in the Galaxians as well. Not smart by ESPN to pander to Seattle's traveling army and not give the home fans their seconds of fame.

As for Landon Donovan, could do a little bit better with his finishing. While it was nice to see Edson and one of the supporting cast members get on the sheet, the captain will need to play a key role in the outcome of the Western Conference Final on Nov. 14 against FC Dallas.

Both Beckham and Donovan got the job done on the wings, and this is most likely what the fans will see against Schellas Hyndman's club on Victoria Street. Good speed, playing simple quick balls, playing team defense and team possession. Fundamentals, readers.

“I watched a lot of [Seattle's] games at the end of the year," Donovan said, "and that was certainly their strength. Zakuani and Nyassi were playing very well, so we knew if we took that part of their game away, we would beat them. They didn’t do as well as they had in previous games and I would attribute that to how well we played."

Tristan Bowen is going to need to settle down. He doesn't seem to be ready for this atmosphere just yet, as if he's thrown to the lions in some way.

However, with time, Bowen will get used to this and he will settle down in his position on the Galaxy attack. I guess this is what I would expect from a young player, so with time, these jitters will dissipate.

A.J. De La Garza, who celebrated his birthday this week, was very impressive in doing the business of playing defense. Combined with Omar Gonzalez, he disposed, marked his man, and helped bring patience and confidence on the ball.

It's rising stars like De La Garza who can take the slack off old vets like Gregg Berhalter. Hopefully in the MLS SuperDraft or via the Academy, the Galaxy will pick up a left back who will make the back line stronger for the long haul.

And speaking of old vets, Eddie Lewis did his part filling in for Todd Dunivant. Hey, he got the job done in the first leg; why not have him finish them off in the second?

“Eddie played well last week," Arena said. "He is pretty rested. Todd didn’t get into practice until Thursday, so we felt Eddie was a little fitter, and a little bit more prepared to play in this game.”

Next week, the Galaxy face off against FC Dallas, and you'd better believe that for the Hoops, the third time could be the charm.

“From the last matchup we just played, not too long ago," Buddle said, "it’s going to be very physical and they have good chemistry. It’s going to be tough to get opportunities, especially in a semifinal game.”

In short: stay tuned.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. PT/9:00 p.m. ET and will be televised by ESPN 2 and ESPN Deportes.

Chicken Thief No. 13 - Steve Zakuani...caught.

Zakuani was able to get open space late in the second half to salvage a goal for the Sounders in their 2-1 defeat. Unfortunately, the Galaxy FO sent in the LA County Sheriff's Department to handcuff the repeat offender.

Thus, the Pollo Campero chickens were sent back to the fans, and everyone in attendance got their coupons. Well done, that Sheriff's Department.


Beckham's road to redemption continues

Midfielder David Beckham had nothing but praise for the Galaxy's campaign thus far.

“We had a good opportunity last year," Beckham said. "Obviously, we didn’t go all the way and win the whole thing, so we are happy so far and we are performing well. I think the character is showing through.

"We still have two matches, obviously one more to go to get through to the final, and hopefully we can do that. We can only do that with hard work, character, and the professionalism that we have shown so far.”

When asked about being driven to succeed, the No. 23 shook it off as more of the same.

“It doesn’t make any difference," Beckham said. "I am always driven to be successful, and I am always driven to win. Obviously, having the injury was a disappointment, but my drive has never been an issue.

"I have always wanted success. I am 35 years old now and I still want it as much as I did when I was 18 and 19.”

Being match fit is important to Beckham, and the recent slate of matches make it seem like it's the preseason and not the postseason.

“I think obviously it is my kind of preseason," Beckham said. "I’m still trying to get fitness. It helps when I play the full 90 minutes. I’m still getting the aches and the pains of preseason.

"I felt physically good tonight. I think if I look after my body like I have done since I have been back, then hopefully I will continue to progress.

“It was a tough week recovering [from playing on Seattle's turf]. When you play on that kind of surface, especially after the injury that I had, it is going to take time.

"It was a good week because I got most days in training. I think there is only one day that I missed and the rest was good. Tonight was a good night for us.”

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