but right to Jovan Kirovski, and he nodded home a quick reactive header. But the Quakes withstood withering pressure over the final minutes to hold out for the win.
• Here's Yallop's team (4-4-2): Joe Cannon - Chris Leitch, Brandon McDonald, Aaron Pitchkolan, Michael Zaher - Bobby Convey (Eric Denton 82), Ramiro Corrales, Antonio Ribeiro, Darren Huckerby - Pablo Campos (Chris Wondolowski 73), Ryan Johnson (Quincy Amarikwa 85). Substitutes Not Used: Kelly Gray, Shea Salinas, Andrew Weber
• Here's Arena's team (4-4-2) Donovan Ricketts - A.J. DeLaGarza (Bryan Jordan 76), Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez, Todd Dunivant - Chris Klein (Tristan Bowen 91+), Jovan Kirovski, Stefani Miglioranzi, Kyle Patterson (Alan Gordon 55) - Edson Buddle, Mike Magee. Substitutes Not Used: Leonard Griffin, Kevin Guppy, Tony Sanneh, Josh Tudela
LOS ANGELES GALAXY
The Los Angeles Galaxy maintained hold of the top spot in the Western Conference, going to Robertson Stadium and coming away with a scoreless draw against the Houston Dynamo. The Galaxy now have 45 points from 29 games, tied for the lead of the Western Conference with the Dynamo and Chivas USA.
LAST MATCH
• The Dynamo and Galaxy entered the game level atop the West, the Dynamo defeating Real Salt Lake to snap a four-game winless run last time out, while were coming off a home win against Chicago two weeks earlier.
• The closest either team came to scoring was in the second half. Edson Buddle popped the ball over Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad after he came off his line, but just before the ball entered the goal, Geoff Cameron was able to clear it away with a bicycle kick.
• The Dynamo once again finished the game with 10 men as Brian Ching was sent off in the 82nd minute by referee Kevin Stott. It was the fifth consecutive game Houston had seen a player shown a red card.
• Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena made two changes to the team that defeated the Chicago Fire 1-0 on Oct. 2 at The Home Depot Center. Todd Dunivant came in for A.J. DeLaGarza at left back, Dema Kovalenko came into the midfield for Chris Klein and Mike Magee replaced Landon Donovan in attack.
• Here's Arena's team (4-1-3-2): Donovan Ricketts - Sean Franklin, Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez, Todd Dunivant - Dema Kovalenko - Chris Birchall, David Beckham, Eddie Lewis (Jovan Kirovski 85) - Mike Magee (Landon Donovan 53), Edson Buddle (Alan Gordon 67). Substitutes Not Used: Bryan Jordan, Chris Klein, Yohance Marshall, Josh Saunders
• "It was a tough game. Houston is a real difficult team to play, when they are at home, with the tight field, their physicality, their quality on set pieces, it wasn't easy," Arena said. "It was a battle for 90 minutes. I liked the mentality of our group and the concentration we showed tonight. Again, it's a good team in a game that meant something to both teams. I think we have to be pleased with at least leaving with a point."
TEAM NEWS
• The Galaxy kept a clean sheet for the sixth time in their last eight games, though they have allowed eight goals over that span - due in no small part to the wild 6-3 loss to FC Dallas on Sept. 12 at The Home Depot Center.
• The point was also crucial because the Galaxy will hold the majority of the tiebreakers against both Chivas USA and Houston if the teams finish tied atop the Western Conference. A win against San Jose will give the Galaxy home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
• "This was a like a dress rehearsal for the playoffs, this is the same type of atmosphere you would get," Ricketts said. "Houston, they're a tough, physical team and playing the way we did, we were good enough to get a point."
• With Landon Donovan having played two vital World Cup qualifiers for the USA, he was kept out of the starting lineup by Arena, though he came on for just more than the final half-hour as a substitute.
• "I think that game was good practice for the players. I think on the road, we're going to see that kind of atmosphere and that kind of intensity in the game," Arena said.
• If rookie Omar Gonzalez starts in the season finale, he will have started in each and every one of the team's games this season. Coming into the final weekend, just five field players (along with three goalkeepers) had started 29 games this season. His play has earned him consideration as a potential Rookie of the Year; Galaxy defender Sean Franklin won the award last year.
• "It's a very good rookie class, and there certainly are a number of first-year players that have established themselves with good seasons," Arena said. "Omar is one of them. His record speaks for itself. He's started in 29 games and played in virtually every minute this year, and it's a team that has greatly improved in the defensive end of the field. You look around the league, and there are four or five other strong candidates as well. I can't tell you how they'll vote in this thing, but certainly he'll be right up there."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
The San Jose Earthquakes continued to play a role in the Western Conference playoff race, holding Chivas USA to a 2-2 draw Saturday at The Home Depot Center. The Earthquakes have 30 points from 29 matches on the year, still in eighth place in the Western Conference.
LAST MATCH
• Both teams had already learned their postseason places. Chivas USA had clinched a place the week before, but still in the hunt for the Western Conference top seed and the Supporters' Shield, while the Earthquakes were one of three teams eliminated by kickoff.
• The home side got off to a bright start. Sacha Kljestan won the ball in midfield and sent Maykel Galindo free with a perfect pass up the center of the park. Galindo stroked it under goalkeeper Andrew Weber for his fourth goal and the seventh-minute opener.
• But the Quakes leveled the score in the 21st minute. A free kick was played down the right touchline and Shea Salinas hooked in a cross, finding Brandon McDonald who headed home for his first professional goal.
• San Jose then remarkably took the lead in the 57th minute. Again it came from a set piece, Chris Leitch swinging in a free kick from the right and Ryan Johnson getting up at the back post to loop a header over Zach Thornton and inside the right post for his 11th goal on the season.
• But Chivas was able to come up with the equalizer. Ante Jazic played in an early cross from the left and Justin Braun was able to get a head on it ahead of the onrushing Weber, the ball settling into the back of the net for his third goal on the year and his third in the last three meetings with San Jose.
• San Jose head coach Frank Yallop made four changes from the side that played to a 1-1 draw at Toronto FC the week before. Simon Elliott, Arturo Alvarez and Ramon Sanchez all returned from international duty, coming in for Antonio Ribeiro and the injured Jason Hernandez and Chris Wondolowski. In addition, Andrew Weber started in goal in place of Joe Cannon.
• Here's Yallop's team (4-4-2): Andrew Weber - Chris Leitch, Bobby Burling, Brandon McDonald, Bobby Convey - Shea Salinas, Simon Elliott, Ramon Sanchez, Ramiro Corrales - Arturo Alvarez (Quincy Amarikwa 74), Ryan Johnson. Substitutes Not Used: Mike Graczyk, Aaron Pitchkolan, Antonio Ribeiro, Jamil Roberts, Michael Zaher
TEAM NEWS
• While the Earthquakes have won only one game away from home all season, the draw against Chivas did extend their current unbeaten run on the road to four games, a draw at Colorado, the win at D.C. United, then back-to-back draws vs. Toronto and Chivas to start their season-ending three-game road swing.
• "Any game you play away from home is important to get something out of," Yallop said. "A tie is good. You try to get a win obviously but winning away from home in this league is not easy. There are signs there that we can win away from home."
• The Quakes have five draws on the road this season to go with their one victory. "It becomes a bit of belief," Yallop said of having pulled out another road result. "Now, we can't wait for next weekend. We're playing Galaxy here and we're looking forward to the match. We're not dreading it. If you get beat quite often like we were in the beginning of the year you start dreading the games. Now you're looking forward to them."
• But the Quakes conceded the equalizer after gaining the lead earlier in the second half; their 29 goals allowed in the second 45 minutes is tied for most in MLS, along with FC Dallas.
• "It's kind of been the story of the season," Ryan Johnson said. "We would get up on teams and would somehow let them get back into games, would let them tie the game or lose it. It's been a recurring things with this team and that's one thing we have to correct for next year."
• Andrew Weber was given a second start of his MLS career, and again came away with a result on the road. Weber backstopped San Jose's 2-1 win at D.C. United on Sept. 27, the lone road win of the season.
• "Andrew did well, he made some good saves. He had a good save early down to his left. The one late on Braun's game-winner - Braun's clean through, Andy comes off his line bravely and makes the save," Yallop said. "A good performance, he's had two games and he's unbeaten in the two games he's had, so he did well."
