And those words are: Western Conference Champions!

In another step in the worst-to-first journey that MLS Coach of the Year Bruce Arena has taken the team on, the Los Angeles Galaxy turned away a stiff challenge from the Houston Dynamo in 30 minutes of extra time with a 2-0 scoreline.

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This match promises to be a dogfight. The season series between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Houston Dynamo featured exactly one goal and a lot of physical defending. If that sounds a lot like what Chivas and the Galaxy went through for the bulk of their five games this season, its not coincidence.

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Eskandarian, Landon, and Eddie Lewis are each nominated for Goal of the Year.

Ricketts and Josh Saunders are each nominated for Save of the Year.

Take a look and rock the vote on this election day.

You can vote for Goal of the Year here.

You can vote for Save of the Year here.

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Welcome back to the playoffs!

It has been three long and, to be blunt, disastrous years since the last time the Galaxy played post-season futbol. That year they peaked at the right time after basically backing in to the playoffs and ended up taking the MLS Cup from New England on Pando Ramirez's only goal of the season.

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Patrick Vieira returns to the Emirates Stadium this weekend — as a mural on the side of the arena! The former Gunners skipper, who currently plays for Inter Milan, will be depicted on a mural with legends Eddie Lewis, Lee Dixon and Joe Mercer, as Arsenal continue their 'Arsenalisation' process of the stadium. Click to continue reading...

And that word is: Punchless.

Or it could be seven words: This team is nothing without Landon Donovan.

So let's start with the positive: shutting out Houston at home in front of a sell-out crowd and forcing Pat Onstad to actually make some saves. Once again Donovan Ricketts proves his worth making a busload of saves and the backline bends but doesn't break.

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Ahh, this is looking to be quite the match up!

The Galaxy, Dynamo, and Chivas are all tied for first in the Western Conference with 44 points each. So this match will likely determine the first place team in the Western Conference. Only two games remain for our Galaxy they play the Earthquakes at home next Saturday to end the regular season.

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And those word are: Gutting it out.

The Los Angeles Galaxy took three points at home from a determined Fire team populated with a large number of replacement for injured players. As has been the case all season, the defense provided the base from which the Galaxy was able to generate just enough offense to put the game away.

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The Los Angeles Galaxy takes on the Chicago Fire in a battle of second place teams on Friday, October 2 at 8PM. The game will be on ESPN2.

On paper this should be a tough, hard fought match between two teams that need to be peaking right now if they have hopes of going deep in the post-season.

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I didn't have time away from the family to write a preview.

But check it out Bryan Jordan is starting up top. How many times have we wanted to see what he can do up there? And of course my maternal side is sooo happy for him!

Eddie Lewis is out with Sean Franklin in his place. Donovan, Migs, and Birchall round out the midfield (Becks out with a small injury).

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Much of this is old news, but I wanted to share just in case you missed it.

Cobi Jones marries his long time girlfriend.

Day on the Links charity golf tournament. Chris Klein all but accuses Eddie Lewis' group of cheating.

Mauricio Cienfuegos "interning" with Sigi Schmidt in Seattle.

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If there were ever to be an Academy Award for Best Dramatic Youtube Clip - Soccer Catergory this would have to be it's inaugural recipient. Obviously I didn't grow up with the club but as someone who had the honor and privilege of frequenting Craven Cottage when there were still terraces and Eddie Lewis was occupying the role of "Little-Used American" currently being played by Eddie Johnson, this really affected me. Click to continue reading...

AP Photo

And those words are: Getting it done.

One week after giving up the most goals in team history, the Los Angeles Galaxy put together perhaps their most complete game of the season (though the Fire game at Toyota Park is in the running), shutting out a talented Toronto FC side to become only the fourth team in MLS history to record a shut-out immediately after giving up six goals.

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Photo by Getty Images

And those words are: EPIC FAIL! Or maybe I've got five words: What the @#$%&! was that? 6-3? That's a team record for goals allowed in a game. 4 FCD goals game after the 70th minute. Three came after the 81st minute. It was an unbelievable set of breakdowns across the board and a new-look, increasingly confident, and very fast Dallas team took full advantage.

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And those words are: That's what I'm talking about!

Last week I was all about "No More Ties!", not because i have a vendetta against neckwear (and a penchant for lame puns), but because winning teams know how to scratch out wins from adverse conditions at crunch time. The frustrating game in DC was the catalyst, though it was the third game in a week played in the aftermath of a hurricane at the end of August in DC's home stadium.

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Aaaaaand we're back with Los Angeles Galaxy analysis.

My apologies to everyone for disappearing just as the Galaxy does three games in a week. I was at a conference in Pittsburgh then in my hometown in North Carolina for some family-time as we saw my grandmother off into the next stage of her journey through the universe.

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Let's play armchair manager, shall we?

Sorry folks, no David Beckham or Eddie Lewis tonight due to red cards. This could mean we finally get to see Chris Birchall in a playmaking midfield role. We already know he can shut down players as well as Miglioranzi, but can he put together better offensive play?

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There was a very quiet start to the Premier Soccer League season for Moroka Swallows, who drew 0-0 with Golden Arrows. Technical Director Eddie Lewis, formerly of West Ham United and Leyton Orient, was said to be have been pleased with the clean sheet, if not the result. Another former West Ham player who is [. Click to continue reading...

The latest news coming from Scottish Premier Division club Aberdeen suggests that former Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Toronto FC man Rohan Ricketts is in line to sign for the club. Ricketts, who has been without a club since being released by the MLS side in June, has impressed on trial at the Dons, looking lively [. Click to continue reading...

Photo by C.J. Guntner

And those words are: Getting there.

In the normal MLS scheme of things I wouldn't be so cautious about a win on the road over the New England Revolution, but the fact is that if not for the Red Bulls' epic FAIL of a season, New England's struggles would be much bigger news.

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Image by Victor Decolongon of Getty Images

And those words are: Should've taken three.

I can't remember the last time my frustration from a Los Angeles Galaxy performance was based on the fact that they clearly outplayed their opponent for an entire game, but could not deliver the death blow.

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Two saweet goals from Thursday Red Bulls game. Too bad Lewis wasn't nominated as well, but I suspect it's in the small print that they can't nominate three players from the same team.

So take another look and rock the vote here. Voting closes tomorrow afternoon, so click over and vote quickly.

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Just as promised, even if it is a day behind normal schedule here. Plenty of solid goals this past week in Major League Soccer. I particularly love some of the combinations in plays like the Columbus game between Jason Garey and Steven Lenhart.

By the way, what was with Rob Stone's Max Bretos call on the DeRo goal?

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Picture by Saed Hindash from the Star Ledger

And those words are: Don't get cocky.

That's 4 wins in a row for the Galaxy, which is not the longest win streak since 2006. (The dismal 2007 season featured a 5 game winning streak from September through October.) All of a sudden the team is tied for third in the West and sitting pretty in a playoff spot (granted it has still played a game more than most of the West) and it is surging rather than falling.

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And those words are: I'll take it.

The Galaxy put together their longest winning streak of the year at three, all 1-0 victories, all against tough teams (Houston, New England, Chivas), though you could argue that this is turning out to be a kind of lost season for the Revs. The scoreline is starting to remind me of the increasingly iconic 2-0 result that the US MNT always seems to get in huge games.

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And those words are: Pleasantly Surprised.

I watched this game twice, once in person (commenting from the stands on Jen's pre-game posting) and once on the MLSLive.tv stream and both times I was impressed at how the Galaxy ended up playing their game and made the Dynamo adjust to them. How unusual!

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And that word is: Punchless.

One shot on goal, seven shots overall, despite controlling the game for decent stretches over the course of the afternoon. Punchless. One shot on goal despite fielding an "offensive-minded" lineup designed to counter the improved San Jose Earthquake defense and attempt to victimize the leakiest defense in the league.

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Well, on paper we were supposed to win last week. This week we are almost guaranteed a win on paper anyway.

San Jose is having an awful season. Add to that injuries to key starting players and our chances still look great without Landon and Eddie Lewis. I learned my lesson last week though, so I'm not making any predictions.

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And those words are: That was disappointing.

I admit that I was suckered by the recent 10 game non-losing streak into believing that the technical deficiencies of the team could be compensated for by heart and determination. Even as I wrote about the mediocrity of the midfield, the ability to gain points on the road and refuse to lose got me into the dangerous head space of thinking that the Galaxy could consistently compete with any team in the league.

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Galaxy 0 RSL 2

The Galaxy gave RSL defender Nat Borchers his first goal in 76 MLS games in the 52nd minute when he scored a header from seven yards after Eddie Lewis had deflected a Clint Mathis cross.

Chris Klein came on for Josh Tudela at the half, so perhaps we'll see a little more movement in the midfield.

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I've got two words for you in the aftermath of the Galaxy's second victory of the year, on the road in Toronto.

And those words are: Edson Buddle.

Two appearances in the last two games, both with less than 30 minutes to go in the match and two goals displaying heads-up play and clinical finishing.

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It's a familiar problem for Bob Bradley and USMNT fans. The perennial problem position for the United States continues to rear its ugly head. I am of course speaking of the left back position, where every American manager since Bora Milutinovic has had to experiment repeatedly to achieve any stability.

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I gave myself the better part of two days before committing this Galaxy-FCD postmortem to the foreverness of the internets because I wanted to get past the bitter taste of frustration lingering in my mouth after Saturday's excursion to Frisco. I wanted to see if that would change what I had to say.

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Don't forget to Vote Tino to make it three weeks running that United strolls away with Goal of the Week. He's currently in the lead, with only Eddie Lewis for close company. Actually, this might be a good time to start discussing nicknames. ... Click to continue reading...

In Spanish from Telemundo via MLS and YouTube.

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