The 2012 MLS playoffs continued on Friday with a knockout tie between defending champions LA Galaxy and the Vancouver Whitecaps at the Home Depot Arena.
Vancouver took a shock lead after three minutes when Darren Mattocks finished off an incisive counter attack. LA were frustrated for long spells before equalising when Mike Magee volleyed home on 69 minutes.
A quick turnaround was completed moments later when Landon Donovan converted a penalty to send Galaxy through to the Western Conference semi-finals.
Good morning all, its time to load up on caffine as the MLS playoffs come to life on the west coast.
We have everything covered as defending champions LA Galaxy enter the business end of their title defence against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Vancouver are in the post-season picture for the first time and will need to shake a run of no away wins since July to keep Canada's MLS Cup hopes alive.
Let's get to the starting lineups with around 15 minutes until kickoff over at the Home Depot Centre.
Saunders, Dunivant, Gonzalez, Meyer, Jimenez, Donovan, Juninho, Beckham, Magee, Keane, Buddle
Knighton, Lee, O'Brien, DeMerit, Harvey, Koffie, Rochat, Thorrington, Watson, Robson, Mattocks
The Galaxy are able to call on the considerable international experience of David Beckham and Landon Donovan when it matters most. Both have struggled with injuries towards the close of the regular season but are fit to start this evening.
LA opt to stick with in-form strike duo Robbie Keane and Edson Buddle, but there is no place for Christian Wilhelmsson on the wing.
Vancouver have recalled former Middlesbrough man Barry Robson in a defensive formation.
The teams are about to take the field and will play to a finish tonight. That means the possibility of extra time, penalties and shattered sleep patterns all round.
Tonight's winner will advance to two-legged tie against top seed San Jose Earthquakes next week. The pressure is definitely on.
Landon Donovan and Jay DeMerit lead the teams out, we are moments away from kickoff.
Plenty of former Premier League stalwarts in the Vancouver defence. DeMerit is joined by Andy O'Brien and Lee Young-Pyo no less.
Vancouver get us underway at the Home Depot Centre, this Western Conference knockout game is good to go.
Beckham is quickly on the ball and sprays a 40-yard pass to Mike Magee but his header is well wide.
LA are dominating in the early stages, Vancouver will need to stay resolute to have a chance tonight.
Robbie Keane gets to the touchline but his cross can't find Edson Buddle.
The Whitecaps have stunned LA with an incisive counter attack. Darren Mattocks calmly slots home to give the away side a shock lead.
With their first shot of the match Vancouver are ahead. An awful start for the Galaxy but a dream start for the Whitecaps in to their first play-off campaign.
Juninho hits one from range and forces a good save from Brad Knighton. Nearly an immediate response from LA.
Buddle puts Andy O'Brien under pressure from a long ball and wins the throw. Juninho works the ball to Beckham but he is closed down well by Barry Robson.
Robbie Keane floats a ball into the penalty area which Knighton claims easily.
Vancouver are sitting deep and after that early strike from Mattocks.
LA continue to probe, Beckham teases a trademark cross into the area but Keane is unable to make contact.
Keane exchanges passes with Buddle before the balls spills loose in a dangerous area. The Irish striker is quick to react but his snapshot is deflected wide.
First corner for LA and Beckham whips in a cross which fails to beat the first defender.
A water break, yes they do exist in MLS, brings a halt to proceedings.
Omar Gonzalez picks decides to strike from range after he is allowed to run from deep. His shot trickles harmlessly wide.
Jimenez crosses after finding space but the ball is cleared by a powerful header from DeMerit.
A free kick taken by Beckham again fails to cause problems to a strong Vancouver defence.
Beckham plays in Keane but his touch lets him down on the edge of the penalty area.
Vancouver are happy to let LA keep the ball in midfield and drop deep. The Galaxy are struggling to penetrate in wide areas.
Thorrington goes down under a challenge from Tommy Mayer. A late tackle that earns a stern warning from the referee but no yellow card.
Keane drops deep and finds time and space. He works the ball wide to Beckham who wins a corner kick.
Keane is at the heart of the action again, swiveling in the area and unleashing a low strike which forces a strong save from Knighton.
Mattocks races away in a rare Vancover attack but the flag is quickly raised for offside.
Vancouver enjoy an important spell of possession to give their defence a much-needed breather.
LA eventually regain the ball and work some space for Jimenez out wide but again Galaxy are let down by a poor final pass.
Beckham finds Donovan in the area but his header from 12-yards out is well wide of the target.
Keane continues to come deep in search of the ball, with Edson Buddle cutting a frustrated figure in attack for LA.
Beckham give the ball away with a sloppy pass, a sure sign all is not well at the Home Depot Centre.
Barry Robson picks the ball up for Vancouver but he can only pass to Jordan Harvey in an offside position.
Juninho wins a 50-50 challenge with Robson and finds Buddle out wide. He picks out Donovan in the area who winds a corner.
Beckham's corner finds its way to Donovan but he fails to find the target with an off-balance finish.
Another corner for Galaxy who are applying serious pressure as the first half draws to a close.
Knighton comes out to punch the corner to safety. An effort from Donovan from at least 35-yards out sails over the crossbar.
DeMerit smashes another Beckham corner clear, he has been immense for Vancouver in this first half.
Juninho picks up the first yellow card for a deliberate handball after losing possession cheaply.
Magee is livid with the referee for awarding a throw to Vancouver. A sign of mounting frustration for Bruce Arena's side.
Donovan wants a penalty after going down under a heavy challenge from O'Brien but the referee waves away his protests. In the ensuing chaos Galaxy win a free kick on the egde of the area.
Beckham lines it up and forces an excellent save from Knighton.
There is no time for the goal kick. Beckham and Keane surround the referee, they still feel O'Brien's foul merited a penalty.
Despite dominating possession and chances in the first half LA trail thanks to counter-punch from Darren Mattocks just three minutes in. 1-0 to Vancouver at the break.
The defending champions will need to dig deep in the second half or their season will be over.
Beckham has been heavily involved in the first half but the quality of set pieces hasn't bee to his usual high standard, particularly from corners.
Landon Donovan was also absent for much of the opening period. The Galaxy talisman left the flank and looked dangerous as the first half drew to a close.
Vancouver defenders Jay DeMerit and Andy O'Brien were imperious at the back for the first 45 minutes, heading clear anything that moved.
Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie will need to draw on all of his backline's international experience to maintain this scoreline at full time.
Expect a wave of LA pressure in the second half. Creating chances is rarely a problem for the Galaxy but patience will be the key.
Galaxy striker Edson Buddle has struggled to get involved so far, dominated by DeMerit in a series of aerial duels.
Bruce Arena will turn to his experienced players to dig them out of a hole when play resumes in a few minutes. Keane, Donovan and Beckham it's now or never.
Buddle and Keane gets the second half underway.
LA straight onto the attack as Donovan smashes a low cross into the area. Buddle brings the ball down but O'Brien is there to intercept with a fine block.
Vancouver break quickly with Thorrington forcing a decent save from Ben Saunders with a long-range strike.
Buddle breaks out wide but he lacks support and the chance is quickly gone.
Donovan is noticeably deeper in the early stages of the second half. Much longer without an equaliser and that will surely not last.
Beckham flicks in Juninho who finds Keane, but his volley is blocked by DeMerit.
Arena hasn't waited long to make a change. Marcelo Sarvas is on for Hector Jimenez.
An early gamble for the Galaxy with Beckham switching to the right flank, allowing Sarvas to bomb on.
A superb long-range strike from Barry Robson moves in the air and requires a strong save from Saunders.
Beckham is foiled again by Knighton as the Vancouver keeper reacts quickly to catch an inviting cross.
A frustrated Beckham boots Barry Robson to give away a needless free kick.
Edson Buddle bursts onto a Keane pass but his shot is blocked. The ball falls to Donovan but his clipped cross evades Keane at the back post.
The Premier League theme continues as goalscorer Mattocks is replaced by Kenny Miller.
Beckham has switched back into a central position for the time being. His diagonal cross is cleared for Galaxy's eighth corner kick of the night.
An out-swinging corner is cleared to Mike Magee, who lashes a wayward volley wide of the target.
LA are utterly dominant but continue to struggle to create clear-cut opportunities.
Vancouver are 30 minutes away from an unlikely victory.
Beckham's cross is blocked painfully by Jordan Harvey from close range. He stays down and requires treatment.
Kenny Miller buys Vancouver some time with a neat breakaway. Barry Robson provides support but they can't force an effort on goal.
Beckham strikes a volley low into the ground but once again Knighton is equal to the shot.
Donovan tries to keep the pressure on but his cross is easily intercepted by Matt Watson.
Mike Magee punishes Vancouver for missing a chance just seconds earlier by scoring on the break. 1-1 at the Home Depot Centre and its game on.
A short corner from Beckham finds its way to Magee unmarked in the penalty area. He guides the ball brilliantly into the net with an angled volley.
A double whammy for Vancouver. Imposing defender Jay DeMerit is forced off after being injured int he build-up to LA's goal.
Juninho darts into the area and DeMerit's replacement Martin Bonjour fouls Landon Donovan.
Donovan gets up to take. He scores high into the net under intense pressure. A quick turnaround and the champions are ahead.
What an incredible five minutes at the Home Depot Centre. Vancouver look stunned, they came agonisingly close to going two goals ahead and now find themselves behind.
Relief all round for the Galaxy. Vancouver are livid on the touchline as assistant coach Paul Ritchie is sent to the stands for his protests.
The Whitecaps have a free kick around 30 yards from goal. Robson delivers but Beckham gets some distance on an effective clearance.
Vancouver have got to pick themselves back up, they have 15 minutes to force an equaliser or their post-season adventure will be over quickly.
Beckham finds space in an advanced position, but he fails to pick out Keane.
Thorrington bursts into the area for Vancouver and cuts inside before falling down under pressure. Huge protests from the Whitecaps bench but no penalty given. Huge decision goes against the away side.
The Whitecaps bring on speed demon Dane Richards for Matt Watson.
Beckham swerves a shot from distance just past the far post. Close to a trademark goal that would have ended the match as a contest.
Keane looks to line up a volley but O'Brien smashes clear. No love lost between these two as a heated exchange ensues.
Bruce Arena makes a change as Juninho comes off injured. He is replaced by young midfielder Michael Stephens.
Barry Robson floats a cross out of play for Vancouver, chance missed.
Kenny Miller finds Thorrington out wide, but his cross fails to beat the full back.
Sarvas bursts forward but loses the ball after a breakdown in communication with Beckham.
Robson intercepts the ball and forces a cynical foul from Sarvas, who gets booked for the professional foul.
Robbie Keane does brilliantly to bring the ball down in space but he can't pick out Edson Buddle unmarked in the penalty area.
LA are using their experience to keep the ball away from danger as we drift towards injury time.
The fourth official signals three minutes of injury time as Miller fouls Gonzales on the halfway line.
Barry Robson crosses into the area but a foul is given against O'Brien, much to the annoyance of the Vancouver bench.
A chance to cross for Rochat but his effort drifts long for a goal kick.
Landon Donovan moves into space but he is called for offisde. Last chance for Vancouver.
Knighton knocks the ball long but Michael Stephens clears for the last action of the match.
Its all over, LA Galaxy survive a huge fright to edge Vancouver in a pulsating clash. Mike Magee and Landon Donovan keep the champions alive by the skin of their teeth.
LA advance to a Western Conference Semi-final against San Jose Earthquakes, with the first leg set for Sunday evening.
Vancouver were agonisingly close to a major shock for long spells and can be proud of their play-off debut despite seeing their season ended late on.
Time to get some sleep after an entertaining post-season encounter. Thanks for joining us at Sports Mole and be sure to join us throughout November for complete coverage of the 2012 MLS playoffs.
Written by
Liam Power
Liam Power
