The LA Galaxy defeated the Houston Dynamo 1-0 during the MLS Cup Championship match on Sunday November 20, 2011.

MLS Soccer News: Southern California Fans Thrilled by LA Galaxy's Victory in MLS Cup

The LA Galaxy spent all night on Sunday looking to land a decisive blow en route to a historic MLS championship, and finally got the moment from all three heavy hitters on The Home Depot Center marquee.

Landon Donovan finished off a gorgeous buildup through fellow Designated Players David Beckham and Robbie Keane in the 72nd minute, pushing the Galaxy to a 1-0 win over the Houston Dynamo in MLS Cup 2011 and gift-wrapping the third league championship in franchise history.

Thrilling fans since he joined back in 2007, David Beckham was at the center of the soccer excitement and the crowd went wild as the Home Depot Stadium dropped confetti. Beckham came to the MLS to win a title he never experienced. Tonight, five years later and just before his possible retirement turns real, Beckham helped elevate LA Galaxy soccer to its current victory. 

The victory for the Galaxy is more than merely winning a coveted Cup or beating many MLS teams this season.  It is a victory for the sport of soccer.

Tonight's Action: The play began with a nifty flick header from Beckham to a surging Keane, who drifted to the middle of the field roughly 25 yards out and patiently waited for the chance to strike.

Then came the onrushing Donovan, who threaded his way past the Houston back line and latched onto a pitch-perfect Keane pass before coolly slotting a right-footed shot just past Houston goalkeeper Tally Hall and into the back of the net.

Amongst recent talk that Donovan was not performing his best, it was a pleasure to see Landon win the game for his team.

The moment, which played out in front of 30,281 fans that braved uncharacteristically wet and cool conditions in Southern California, also punctuated one of the best seasons for any team in league history. The Galaxy won the Supporters’ Shield during the regular season and steadily drove their way through the postseason, capped by an impressively solid performance against a Dynamo team that struggled to keep pace all night.

The win also gave head coach Bruce Arena the third MLS title of his storied career, and likely exorcised any demons from the last time the club was in the title game. 

Will David Beckham retire?  Arena called Beckham a champion tonight and said, “You know, I’ve been around great athletes in my life in different sports, and this guy is as good as it comes. Unbelievable desire to win and compete. I’m so happy for him. He’s done it all now, (winning titles) in every country he’s been. What more can you say about a guy like this?

“Whatever he decides to do, I’ll support him 100 percent. He’s earned that. If he decides to get on his horse and ride into the sunset, I’ll support him.”

According to the LA Galaxy's website, Beckham’s arrival on these shores marked the dawn of the Designated Player era in MLS, whereby teams could pay whatever they wanted for a player and have it count only minimally against a salary cap that hovers around $2.5 million. It soon expanded to two DPs per team, and then three.

It took until Sunday night, though, for a team with DPs to actually win MLS Cup. Houston, Columbus, Real Salt Lake and Colorado had hoisted the trophy without them since 2007.

The Galaxy, technically, had four DPs this season. When Colombian forward Juan Pablo Angel managed just three goals in 22 games, it sought Irish forward Robbie Keane – replacing Angel’s $1.25 million salary with $3.4 million for Keane. Donovan makes $2.3 million, Beckham $6.5 million.

And it was that $12 million troika that, fittingly, created the game’s lone goal. Beckham deftly headed a ball to Keane, who twisted a Houston defender with his dribble and fed a streaking Donovan, who beat goalkeeper (and San Diego State alum) Tally Hall.

That it took until the 72nd minute was a combination of L.A.’s inadequacy in front of the net and the grit of a Houston team that hadn’t lost in two months but was without its star midfielder Brad Davis.

The Galaxy was worried it might not have Beckham after he pulled a hamstring Tuesday and pretended he missed ensuing practices due to a “cold.” But the leg improved enough for No. 23 to play the full 90 minutes, although he mostly sat in his deep midfield position and launched long balls to Keane and Donovan.

Asked how it felt afterward, Beckham said: “I’ve just had a bit of champagne and a bit of beer, and I can’t really feel it any more.”

The evening’s celebration was a continued theme of his postgame remarks, as he was lobbed one question after another about his future.

“At the moment, I’m going to enjoy tonight,” Beckham said. “It’s going to be a great night … Tonight I’m an LA Galaxy player. I’ve been for five years. I will be tonight.”

Notes

The announced crowd of 30,281 was a HDC record. Extra seating areas were added in the corners, and tickets were sold to a very slippery grass berm behind one goal ... The victorious Galaxy roster includes two veterans with San Diego ties -- Jovan Kirovski (San Pasqual High) and Frankie Hejduk (San Dieguito High) -- although neither played Sunday night. Hejduk also won with the Columbus Crew in 2007, the last time MLS Cup was played here ...

The Galaxy outshot Houston 14-8 and more or less dominated the action ... L.A. completed the season undefeated at home and became the first team to win MLS Cup in its home stadium since D.C. United in 1997.

Scoring Summary:
LA -- Landon Donovan 3 (Robbie Keane 1, David Beckham 4) 72

Misconduct Summary:
HOU -- Bobby Boswell (caution; Handball) 13
LA -- Adam Cristman (caution; Reckless Tackle) 40
HOU -- Andre Hainault (caution; Reckless Foul) 74
LA -- David Beckham (caution; Tactical Foul) 82
LA -- Landon Donovan (caution; Delaying a Restart) 94+

Lineups:

Houston Dynamo -- Tally Hall, Andre Hainault, Bobby Boswell, Geoff Cameron, Jermaine Taylor, Danny Cruz (Colin Clark 78), Luiz Camargo, Adam Moffat, Corey Ashe (Je-Vaughn Watson 84), Brian Ching, Calen Carr (Carlo Costly 66).
Substitutes Not Used: Will Bruin, Hunter Freeman, Eddie Robinson, Tyler Deric.

LA Galaxy -- Josh Saunders, Sean Franklin, Omar Gonzalez, A.J. DeLaGarza, Todd Dunivant, Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Juninho, Mike Magee, Adam Cristman (Chris Birchall 57), Robbie Keane.
Substitutes Not Used: Gregg Berhalter, Paolo Cardozo, Frankie Hejduk, Jovan Kirovski, Michael Stephens, Donovan Ricketts.

Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Referee's Assistants: Craig Lowry; Peter Manikowski
4th Official: Hilario Grajeda
Attendance: 30,281
Time of Game: 1:52
Weather: Rain and 53 degrees

Photo Credit: ISIPhotos