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Robbie Keane scores to help Galaxy into CONCACAF Champions League semifinals for the 1st time

By: The Associated Press

Posted: 03/14/2013 2:44 AM | Comments: 0

CARSON, Calif. - Robbie Keane scored late to help Los Angeles Galaxy qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals for the first time with a 4-1 win over Herediano on Wednesday.

Santos Laguna capitalized on an early own goal by the Houston Dynamo in a 3-0 victory at Mexico City to reach the semifinals for the second straight year.

At Carson, Omar Gonzalez headed in from a corner in the 18th minute and Jose Villarreal held off two defenders before curling in a shot from 22 yards to give the Galaxy a 2-0 lead in the 69th.

Keane made it 3-0 in the 83rd and Jack McBean scored in stoppage time as the Galaxy secured a 4-1 aggregate victory over the Costa Rican club.

"I think once we had that second goal, we killed them off. ... I don't think (Herediano) were brilliant, to be honest," said Keane, the Galaxy captain. "And they didn't look like they were going to score. It was quite a comfortable performance."

Elias Aguilar scored in the 85th minute, Herediano's only goal in the home-and-away series after a 0-0 draw last week at Heredia, Costa Rica.

"We have potential to be good," Herediano technical director Marvin Solano said. "But we're not up to the tactical quality of the L.A. Galaxy for a tournament of this size."

Los Angeles will play Mexico's Monterrey, the two-time defending champion, in early April. The Seattle Sounders face Mexico's Santos Laguna in the other semifinal.

Santos lost the first match 1-0 at Houston but got in front early at home after Tally Hall's own goal in the 23rd minute and a goal from Herculez Gomez five minutes later.

Marc Crosas finished the scoring in the 76th minute as the Dynamo lost for the fourth time in five visits to Mexico.

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