the last two on the road -- while Houston Dynamo were also winners of three in a row.
• Brian Ching was scratched from the lineup just minutes before kickoff with back spasms, and that put Nate Jaqua into a forward role. He made that pay off in the 21st minute when he put Dynamo into the lead. Craig Waibel sent Joseph Ngwenya free down the right flank, who hooked in a low cross. It fell to Jaqua's feet, and he turned home a first-time shot for his seventh goal.
• But just before the break the Galaxy pulled level. From a quick throw-in, Carlos Pavon touched the ball back to Landon Donovan, then raced forward to collect the return pass played over the top. Pavon lashed a dipping first-time shot inside the right-hand post from the left side of the area.
• The Galaxy scored the game-winner in the 77th minute, again prompted by Donovan. He swung a high free kick into the area, which was headed into the air by Cobi Jones. Gavin Glinton raced to the left-hand post and nodded it home from close range for his third goal in the last five games.
• Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop made two changes to the team that defeated the Columbus Crew 2-1 at Crew Stadium. Ante Jazic came in at left back for Mike Randolph, and Carlos Pavon replaced Alan Gordon in attack.
• Here's Yallop's team (4-4-1-1): Joe Cannon - Chris Klein, Ty Harden (Mike Randolph 26), Troy Roberts, Ante Jazic - Cobi Jones, Josh Tudela, Peter Vagenas (Kevin Harmse 71), Kyle Martino (Gavin Glinton 46) - Landon Donovan - Carlos Pavon. Substitutes Not Used: Edson Buddle, Steve Cronin, Quavas Kirk, Kyle Veris
• "It just keeps us alive and it keeps us rolling. I think every single one of our guys today, everybody in the club is so behind what we're doing right now," said Yallop. "It's just great. It's a great atmosphere. The guys have done terrific, and I'm really proud of what we're doing right now."
LAST MATCH
• With the five-game unbeaten run, including wins in their last four, the Galaxy now control their own destiny. Three wins will certainly put them into the postseason; two wins and a draw could do if Chicago ties or loses to D.C. United on Saturday AND Colorado fails to win either of its remaining two games.
• "We've gotten to a point where we've clawed our way back into it. It's nice to know that if we win three games we're in," said Frank Yallop. "Our playoffs start Saturday really. If you're going to win an MLS Cup, you have to win a lot of games in a row -- and we've got seven to go."
• However, a loss to Toronto and Chicago claiming a point in D.C., or the failure to defeat TFC, a New York draw against Kansas City and a Chicago win, and the Galaxy miss out on the postseason for a second consecutive year.
• "It's easy to say we've done the hard work, but I think that would be a letdown. If we put the same effort into these games (at home), both mentally and physically, we can get some good results," said goalkeeper Joe Cannon. "The plan for us is making sure we go into the last game against Chicago knowing that we can still make it into the playoffs."
• The Galaxy defense played well against the Dynamo attack, holding the defending MLS Cup champions to only three shots on goal.
• "I thought towards the second half of the first half, we started to pick up our game and started to play really well," said defender Ante Jazic "In the second half we dropped a little bit. They put some pressure on us, but I thought we defended well, kept our composure, kept our shape. We were able to sneak a second goal, and we were able to hold out for a huge three points in a playoff drive."
• After all the trials and tribulations of the season, the Galaxy are starting to come together in a late-season charge that could be reminiscent of their MLS Cup victory in 2005, when they finished eighth overall and stormed through the postseason.
• "I just think right now we have a positive atmosphere," Jazic said. "We're playing without any pressure. All the guys are together and we've finally become a team. We have the same lineup, 12 guys deep usually. We're gelling together at the right time. It's a good atmosphere, and we're going to make a good push towards the playoffs, hopefully."
• Both goals also came from set pieces, though in different ways. Carlos Pavon's goal was started from a movement from a throw-in, while Cobi Jones scored at the end of a free kick.
• "Carlos starts the play and Landon flicks it on to him, and he has a terrific finish," Yallop said. "It was a beautiful left-footed shot, and at the far post it was unstoppable. We talked about early set plays and beginning areas, and we did exactly what we said on the second goal. It was a great head back by Cobi and then Gavin was alert to put it in the net, so it was terrific."
TORONTO FC
Toronto FC couldn't build upon their first victory in three months, falling 1-0 to a nine-man Colorado Rapids on Sunday evening at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. TFC now has 24 points with two matches remaining, tied for 12th place in the overall standings with Real Salt Lake.
LAST MATCH
• The Rapids came into the game winless in their last five games after a season-long three-game winning streak, while Toronto FC was coming off their first victory since July 4.
• The Rapids also needed a win to maintain contact, but on a cold, wet night in Commerce City, the job threatened to get that much tougher in the 36th minute when Mehdi Ballouchy was sent off with a straight red card by referee Kevin Stott for a studs-up tackle on Carl Robinson in midfield.
• But Colorado had a little good fortune just before the break. A corner kick bounced around the area, and as it was pumped back in, TFC midfielder Chris Pozniak pulled down Facundo Erpen as he moved for the ball. Stott awarded a penalty, and Jovan Kirovski converted with ease, his sixth goal of the year and fourth from the spot.
• TFC 'keeper Kenny Stamatopoulos made sure it stayed 1-0 with a terrific save on a close-range Kirovski volley midway through the second half, then two minutes from the end, Pablo Mastroeni was shown a second yellow card, leaving Colorado down two men.
• From the ensuing free kick, the ball was played square to substitute Tyler Hemming who hammered a rising drive from well outside the area, but Rapids 'keeper Bouna Coundoul just tipped it over the bar to secure the victory.
• Toronto FC head coach Mo Johnston made two changes to the team that defeated the New York Red Bulls on Thursday. Andrew Boyens was suspended and Jim Brennan injured, so Chris Pozniak and Tyrone Marshall came back into the team.
• Here's Johnston's team (4-4-2): Kenny Stamatopoulos - Adam Braz (Tyler Hemming 46), Carl Robinson, Tyrone Marshall, Todd Dunivant - Marvell Wynne, Chris Pozniak (Joey Melo 63), Maurice Edu, Gabe Gala (Miguel Canizalez 46) - Jeff Cunningham, Collin Samuel. Substitutes Not Used: Srdjan Djekanovic, David Guzman, Andrea Lombardo, Marco Reda
• "When the score was 0-0 with 11 vs. 11 we were fine," said Toronto coach Mo Johnston. "But after the red card and the penalty kick we couldn't get it going."
TEAM NEWS
• Coming off their first victory after a 12-game winless streak, the Reds were hoping to put together back-to-back wins for the first time since May 12-16.
• "The win against New York was fresh in our minds and we were hoping to carry that forward to this game, but that's the game of soccer," Marvell Wynne said. "We aren't consistent and our offense just wasn't there today."
• Johnston thought his team showed flashes of good play, but his sputtering forwards could not make the most of their opportunities.
• "Against 10 men we had 90 percent of the ball and Maurice Edu was dominating Pablo Mastroeni," said Johnston. "You see the dominance there, but we were not getting enough weight on the ball. Our delivery of the ball was poor. Our two strikers, [Jeff] Cunningham and [Collin] Samuel, were poor, and I told them that. And when your strikers are off you don't score goals. And that's why this team has had trouble scoring goals of late - because of our strike force."
• There was also a feeling the TFC attack was blunted with the move of Carl Robinson into a center back role. With Andrew Boyens sent off in the New York game he briefly deputized in that position, then continued it with Boyens suspended for the Colorado match.
• "We never wanted to keep the ball and possess it," said Wynne. "It seemed like we were all scared and we weren't sure of our footing or our touch and no one wanted to be the playmaker and put the team on their shoulders. Carl Robinson did all he could as a center back, but I think we really missed him in the midfield."
• It will be a depleted group at The Home Depot Center. "We have a lot of guys missing next week for international duty, Carl Robinson, Andrew Boyens, and [Maurice Edu] in the USA team," said Johnston. "And we have several guys injured. So we are struggling."
• It's also difficult given the makeup of the remainder of the squad, Johnston said. "It is disappointing," he said. "Overall I don't think it was good enough and when I look back at the season there are certain guys who I just don't think are good enough for MLS."
