MLS wrap: LA advance in West, Ching wins it for Dynamo

The Los Angeles Galaxy battled past the New York Red Bulls in the MLS playoffs on Thursday, while the Houston Dynamo eased through.

Coming into their home leg 1-0 up, the Galaxy conceded early before fighting back to record a 2-1 win.

The Red Bulls were level in the tie when Luke Rodgers opened the scoring after four minutes at the Home Depot Center, but Mike Magee and Landon Donovan replied for the Galaxy.

The win puts the Galaxy into a Western Conference final meeting with Real Salt Lake on Sunday.

But they did encounter an early scare as a Thierry Henry through ball found Rodgers, who converted to level the tie just four minutes in.

Yet poor marking at a set-piece saw Magee make it 1-1 on the stroke of half-time, as he headed in David Beckham’s corner for his second goal in as many games.

The Englishman was involved in the sealer, bundled over by Roy Miller in the area to earn a penalty for the Galaxy with a quarter of an hour to play.

Donovan stepped up and sent goalkeeper Frank Rost the wrong way to wrap up a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Meanwhile, the Houston Dynamo advanced to the Eastern Conference final with a 1-0 second-leg win over the Philadelphia Union.

Forward Brian Ching’s header just before half-time sealed an impressive win for the Dynamo, after they had also proven victorious away from home.

Awaiting them in Sunday’s final are Sporting Kansas City.

The winners of the conference finals will do battle in the MLS Cup on November 20.