• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Dynamo-Galaxy Preview

Nov 11, 2009 - 10:42 PM By CHRIS DUNCAN AP Sports Writer

Houston (13-8-9) at Los Angeles (12-6-12), 11:00 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON (AP) -- David Beckham's immediate future is settled, Landon Donovan is having an MVP-caliber season and the Los Angeles Galaxy are two wins from another Major League Soccer championship.

Bolstered by a revamped defense and renewed sense of unity, the Galaxy face two-time MLS champion Houston in the Western Conference final on Friday night.

Los Angeles' mere presence in the game is remarkable, considering the Galaxy tied for the league's worst record in 2008 and started this season with 11 ties in their first 13 games.

And that happened before the real crisis even arrived.

Beckham played the first half of the year with AC Milan, then got stuck in testy negotiations between the Italian club and the Galaxy, with whom he agreed to a five-year contract in January 2007.

The English star stayed with the Italian team four months beyond the end of his original loan. He faced harsh criticism from Galaxy's fans when he returned in July and also had to mend his relationship with Donovan, the team captain, who questioned Beckham's commitment to the MLS team in a book.

Coach Bruce Arena organized a summit for the stars to air their grievances and the two said publicly they were moving on.

Three months later, it's all good.

Beckham will return to AC Milan in January after an agreement was reached between the Italian club and the Galaxy, and Donovan is a finalist for the league's Most Valuable Player award.

The Galaxy gave up only 31 goals in 2009 after allowing 62 in 2008. They shut out seven of their last nine opponents in the regular season to earn the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

"Even in the beginning part of this year, we went a bunch of games without winning and it became frustrating," Donovan said in a conference call. "Once we got that taste of victory and realized what it took, everybody grabbed a hold of that and we've maintained that the rest of the year. Now, I think we're playing as well as we have all year."

Fittingly, Beckham sent one of his trademark crosses to Donovan to set up the winning goal in Sunday's 1-0 win over Chivas USA that propelled the Galaxy into the West final. Donovan controlled the perfect pass, then fed Mike Magee, who was fouled in the penalty area. Donovan then buried the penalty kick, tying an MLS record with his 16th postseason goal.

After three losing seasons, Donovan and the Galaxy are back in the West final for the first time since winning the MLS Cup in 2005.

"The rut we got into was that losing became a habit for this franchise," Donovan said. "Now, this year, winning has become a habit and you realize the things you have to do to be successful."

While the Galaxy are completing a stark resurgence, the Dynamo are back in their usual spot as championship contenders. Houston, MLS champion in 2006 and '07, eliminated Seattle on Sunday on Brian Ching's overtime goal.

Ching said the playoff-proven veterans saved their best for the two games against the Sounders, who reached the postseason in their inaugural season.

"We knew that going into the end of the season, we needed to pick up our game a little bit," Ching said. "That's one of the benefits of having a team with so much experience is that you know when you need to step it up and raise your game."

The Galaxy beat the Dynamo 1-0 in June before the teams played to a scoreless draw on Oct. 18, a match that Ching termed "a feisty affair." Beckham earned a yellow card and Ching was cautioned by the referee after a heated exchange with the English midfielder.

"We're expecting the same kind of a matchup, the same kind of intensity," Ching said.

Ching said the Galaxy were a much improved team the second time around, and Donovan credits coach and general manager Bruce Arena for spurring the turnaround. Hired in August 2008, Arena brought in trusted assistant Dave Sarachan, along with former U.S. national team members Gregg Berhalter and Todd Dunivant and other veterans to strengthen the leadership on the roster.

Donovan is impressed by how quickly things changed.

"You always hear the term 'buying in' to what the coaches are telling you, and everyone buys in," Donovan said. "I can't remember a time this year where a player has complained or brought the team down because they weren't playing. Everyone has respected what Bruce and Dave have done, they respect their decisions, and they're ready when called upon. That's a really important part of being a good team."