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<H1>Galaxy headed back to Open Cup Final</H1><H6></H6><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD width=335><DIV class=byline>ByGreg Daurio/MLSnet.com Staff</DIV><DIV class=byline></DIV></TD><TD align=right width=155><DIV class=storyTixAd></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><DIV class=storyBody>CARSON, Calif -- The Los Angeles Galaxy earned a berth in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final for a second consecutive season thanks to a 3-1 win against Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night at The Home Depot Center. First half strikes from Alan Gordon and Landon Donovan for the Galaxy were sandwiched around a Dwayne De Rosario tally for Houston, before a late insurance goal from Santino Quaranta put the game away.
The Galaxy will now take on the Chicago Fire, 3-0 winners against D.C. United on Wednesday, on Sept. 27 at Toyota Park for the Dewar Trophy. The Galaxy are bidding to join the Fire as the only three-time MLS winners of the U.S. Open Cup.
The goalkeepers were kept busy from the start of the semifinal. Just 30 seconds in, Houston forward Alejandro Moreno blocked an attempted clearance by Galaxy 'keeper Kevin Hartman, forcing the veteran to scramble back toward his net to reclaim the ball.
After shots from Donovan and De Rosario whistled just wide of the target, Tyrone Marshall fed Donovan down the right flank. Donovan held the ball up to wait for support then crossed it to the back post. Quaranta latched onto the cross and hit a side-footed volley goalbound, forcing a diving save from Pat Onstad.
On the ensuing corner kick, Donovan drove a ball into the middle of the area. Onstad appeared to have an easy catch ahead of him, but Gordon rose up above everyone -- including the Houston goalkeeper -- to nod home the game's first goal.
It took just six minutes for Houston to equalize. De Rosario worked free in the area but saw the ball tackled away by Marshall. Yet the ball hit the corner flag and stayed in play, and De Rosario tracked it down. He dribbled back toward goal before letting fly in the direction of the near post. Hartman appeared to be protecting against a cross and as a result was beaten by De Rosario's shot.
Houston should have taken the lead in the 27th minute. Alejandro Moreno worked free down the right side and crossed the ball into the middle where Chris Wondolowski was all alone at the edge of the six. But he directed his effort wide of the goal.
The first half ended with a flurry. The Galaxy took the lead in the 44th minute after Ante Jazic won a free kick on the edge of the Houston penalty area. From 20 yards out, Donovan bent the ball into the side netting, freezing Onstad, who simply watched the ball sail past him.
The Galaxy nearly conceded another game-tying goal in first-half stoppage time. Defender Ugo Ihemelu was beaten by Moreno deep in the Galaxy defensive third, then compounded his mistake by running down Moreno inside the area and referee Jair Marrufo awarded a penalty kick. De Rosario stepped up to try and double his tally, but Hartman made a great reaction save, diving to his right to block the shot and make up for his earlier miscue.
The second half started much slower than the first. The Galaxy created the first good opportunity in the 61st minute when right back Chris Albright ran onto a long free kick sent into the box and directed a header on goal, but right at Onstad who made the save.
Houston worked their first scoring chance of the half in the 70th minute, as De Rosario fought through a slew of defenders before feeding Wondolowski in the penalty area. Wondolowski got a shot off, but his effort was blocked by Marshall over the crossbar for a corner kick.
Houston then created another chance at goal in the 80th minute. De Rosario closed down a short clearance by Marshall and fired a left-footed volley towards the target, but it went well wide.
Dynamo continued to press for the equalizer.
The Galaxy will now take on the Chicago Fire, 3-0 winners against D.C. United on Wednesday, on Sept. 27 at Toyota Park for the Dewar Trophy. The Galaxy are bidding to join the Fire as the only three-time MLS winners of the U.S. Open Cup.
The goalkeepers were kept busy from the start of the semifinal. Just 30 seconds in, Houston forward Alejandro Moreno blocked an attempted clearance by Galaxy 'keeper Kevin Hartman, forcing the veteran to scramble back toward his net to reclaim the ball.
After shots from Donovan and De Rosario whistled just wide of the target, Tyrone Marshall fed Donovan down the right flank. Donovan held the ball up to wait for support then crossed it to the back post. Quaranta latched onto the cross and hit a side-footed volley goalbound, forcing a diving save from Pat Onstad.
On the ensuing corner kick, Donovan drove a ball into the middle of the area. Onstad appeared to have an easy catch ahead of him, but Gordon rose up above everyone -- including the Houston goalkeeper -- to nod home the game's first goal.
It took just six minutes for Houston to equalize. De Rosario worked free in the area but saw the ball tackled away by Marshall. Yet the ball hit the corner flag and stayed in play, and De Rosario tracked it down. He dribbled back toward goal before letting fly in the direction of the near post. Hartman appeared to be protecting against a cross and as a result was beaten by De Rosario's shot.
Houston should have taken the lead in the 27th minute. Alejandro Moreno worked free down the right side and crossed the ball into the middle where Chris Wondolowski was all alone at the edge of the six. But he directed his effort wide of the goal.
The first half ended with a flurry. The Galaxy took the lead in the 44th minute after Ante Jazic won a free kick on the edge of the Houston penalty area. From 20 yards out, Donovan bent the ball into the side netting, freezing Onstad, who simply watched the ball sail past him.
The Galaxy nearly conceded another game-tying goal in first-half stoppage time. Defender Ugo Ihemelu was beaten by Moreno deep in the Galaxy defensive third, then compounded his mistake by running down Moreno inside the area and referee Jair Marrufo awarded a penalty kick. De Rosario stepped up to try and double his tally, but Hartman made a great reaction save, diving to his right to block the shot and make up for his earlier miscue.
The second half started much slower than the first. The Galaxy created the first good opportunity in the 61st minute when right back Chris Albright ran onto a long free kick sent into the box and directed a header on goal, but right at Onstad who made the save.
Houston worked their first scoring chance of the half in the 70th minute, as De Rosario fought through a slew of defenders before feeding Wondolowski in the penalty area. Wondolowski got a shot off, but his effort was blocked by Marshall over the crossbar for a corner kick.
Houston then created another chance at goal in the 80th minute. De Rosario closed down a short clearance by Marshall and fired a left-footed volley towards the target, but it went well wide.
Dynamo continued to press for the equalizer.
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