MLS Playoffs: Player Ratings: LA Galaxy – Houston Dynamo

Los Angeles Galaxy

Donovan Ricketts – 7.5
When the big saves need to be made, Ricketts was there. In the closing minutes of the second half, Ching snapped a header on frame that the Jamaican pushed up onto the crossbeam. The play was a blur of agility and recovery speed.

Sean Franklin – 6 .5
Solid down the right, helping keep the slower and smaller Davis quiet.

Omar Gonzalez – 8
A rock. Houston's attack lacked both the pace and vision to beat him. Time and again he cut out passes or closed down last men. Stuck his head out bravely to knock down the free kick which led to Berhalter's goal.

Gregg Berhalter – 7
Held a tight line all night and poked home the game-winner.

AJ DeLaGarza – 6
Hadn't started since Oct. 2 but didn't look like he'd been gone. The rookie gave a mature display.

Chris Klein – 5
After offering so much energy against Chivas USA, Klein was subdued in this one and eventually yanked off.

David Beckham – 6.5
Faded out of the game badly in the second half as perhaps the pressure of sporting a hairdo not even Goldenballs could pull off weighed on him. Rebounded in extra time with energy to turn the tide. Provided the free kick that led to the game-winner.

Dema Kovalenko – 6
His energy helped LA keep up with the Houston midfield.

Landon Donovan – 6
Until late in the second extra period when he scored a penalty, Donovan did absolutely nothing all game. He was marked out of this one by an industrious and harrying Houston.

Mike Magee – 6
Wasn't up to his sly best and couldn't win out over Hainault down the wing. Should have done better with his glorious chance in the opening minutes after Donovan cut the ball back to him in the box.

Edson Buddle – 5
His performance felt blunted. Didn't have the pace or trickery to break down a resolute Dynamo defense.

Substitutes

Jovan Kirovski – 7
Turned out to be a defensive substitution, holding down the middle of the park and allowing Beckham to drift. Helped turn the tide for the hosts in extra time.

Alan Gordon – 7.5
Won the free kick and then the penalty from which Galaxy scored. Linked up play tidily and did more with his few minutes than Buddle had all game.

Eddie Lewis – N/A

Houston Dynamo

Pat Onstad – 7.5
Gets better with age. Anything possible to be saved, he did.

Andrew Hainault – 7.5
Flipped over to the right flank with Mike Chabala suspended and looked bright all game. Had a perfectly fine game-winning goal disallowed for a phantom foul.

Bobby Boswell – 7
Instrumental to Houston keeping a third consecutive regular time clean sheet. Solid and impenetrable.

Geoff Cameron – 7.5
Kept Donovan quiet all game. Seriously. That's no small feat.

Wade Barrett – 6
Stepped in for Chabala without much fuss. Did his job down the left quietly. Didn't stand out.

Brian Mullan – 5
All harrying, no spark.

Ricardo Clark – 4.5
Tried to hug Gordon to the ground to give up the free kick which led to the game winner. Left a silly trailing leg in the box to bring down Gordon for the game's second. The rest of the game was a rather fine hustling performance, but what will likely turn out to be his last match with the Dynamo won't hold any happy memories for Clark or Dynamo fans.

Stuart Holden – 6
Tracked back well and had a few good late runs, but overall failed to add the spark the game needed.

Brad Davis – 6
Couldn't find the game. Drifted central in an attempt to get a foot in, but never did, even on set pieces. Went off shattered and physically spent.

Brian Ching – 5
Quiet. Whereas against Seattle a brief moment of magic from the United States international saved his team, this anonymous performance had no such silver lining.

Dominic Oduro – 4
Apparently no one has explained the offsides rule to this pacy but thick player. Halted good Houston setup close to a dozen times with silly offsides positioning.

Substitutes

Luis Angel Landin – 4
Described by Grant Wahl as "comically overweight," Landin lived up to the SI scribe's analysis. Slow and sluggish, the DP added nothing to the game except a late tackle which earned him a yellow.

Corey Ashe – 5
Didn't do enough with his fresh legs upon coming in.

Eddie Robinson – N/A
Was only on the pitch long enough to lose Berhalter for the game-winning goal.

Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com

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