Kenny Cooper and Carlos Ruiz scored to lift
FC Dallas to a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy Saturday night.
FC Dallas (16-11-4) clinched the top seed in the Western
Conference and could have home-field advantage throughout the
playoffs _ including the MLS Cup Final, which is scheduled to be
played at Pizza Hut Park on Nov. 12.
The loss eliminated the defending MLS Cup Champion Galaxy
(10-15-6) from the playoffs for the first time in league history.
Los Angeles was the only MLS franchise to qualify for the
post-season in each of the league's first 10 seasons.
The Galaxy are coached by former Canadian national team head
coach Frank Yallop, who took over from Steve Sampson on June 6.
Galaxy defender Ante Jazic of Halifax started on defence and
recorded a shot and a foul in playing the full 90 minutes.
Ruiz scored his 13th goal of the season in the 30th minute after
he angled a header inside the right post from the top left corner of
the box. FC Dallas' Richard Mulrooney assisted by crossing a direct
free kick to Ruiz from the right side.
Cooper, second on the team to Ruiz in goals scored, registered
his 11th of the season in the 47th minute. He redirected a volley
from Ronnie O'Brien in mid-air from about 10 yards away into the
left corner of the goal for a 2-0 lead.
Landon Donovan narrowed the FC Dallas lead to 2-1 in the 71st
minute when he scored his 10th goal of the season. Donovan took
control of a Chris Albright cross with his chest and then fired a
shot into the centre of the net from about eight yards.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
