BY ADAM SERRANO
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras. –- The Los Angeles Galaxy booked their ticket to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League with a 1-0 victory over Club Motagua on Thursday night in Honduras.
Juninho's first half goal was decisive as the Galaxy qualified for the knock out rounds as the winners of Group A alongside runners-up Morelia. Los Angeles advanced by holding the goal differential tie breaker among games involving Morelia and Alajuelense, who each finished with 12 points.
“It's important to advance because of who we are and what team we play for," said midfielder David Beckham. “It was a big game tonight and we showed ou rcharacter winning 1-0 and we're very happy to be through to the next round because when you play for a club like the Galaxy it's expected of you.”
After a sloppy start to the match, the Galaxy were able to break through in the 29th minute when Juninho unleashed a shot from 35 yards that dropped over the head of Motagua goalkeeper Donaldo Morales.
The goal was Juninho's second in two straight CCL matches. His first coming in the dying minutes of the Galaxy's 2-1 victory with Morelia on September 29th that set up the must-win in Honduras. It was also Juninho's sixth goal in all competitions this season for the Galaxy and his fifth from beyond the box.
"That's what I'm becoming known for, it's my charateristic," Juninho said of his clutch goals. "It's all about training. I just try to get myself in the right position. I was in front of the guys and the ball was in front of me, but it's all about my training."
The Hondurans struggled to challenge the Galaxy throughout the match, but forced several key saves from goalkeeper Josh Saunders at various points. In the second half in particular, former MLS star Amado Guevara utalized the vast field at the Estadio Nacional to put the Galaxy defense under pressure.
Ultimately though, the Galaxy defense did not yield. In the game's dying moments, Motagua threatened to score an equalizer, but defender Frankie Hejduk was able to make a slide tackle on Pando Ramirez's chance in the box to preserve the victory. Although Motagua did not steal a point, Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena had nothing but praise for the ex-MLS MVP and the rest of his club.
"Not an easy game. Difficult conditions, slick field and we were a little bit tired, but our objective tonight was to win and advance and we achieved that," said Arena. "Motagua played well, Amado Guevara for me is a great player and one of the biggest mistakes I've made in my coaching career is to move Amado from New York to Chivas USA many years ago."
Despite being met with jeers and obscenities in other locales during their CCL campaign, the Galaxy received a generally positive reaction in Tegucigalpa. Throughout the match, the Galaxy were cheered by a crowd that was full of Galaxy jerseys.
The Galaxy become the third MLS team in the quarterfinals joining Toronto FC and the Seatle Sounders. As victors of Group A, the Galaxy may meet either Seattle, Toronto or Salvadorian side Metapan in the quarterfinals. No matter whom they face in the next round, the Galaxy are ready for the challenge.
"We knew that this tournament was going to be difficult, but we're fortunate because we have a lot of guys that have been through a lot of these games and know what to expect," said Landon Donovan, who went 29 minutes off the bench. "It was not an easy game tonight and our guys did a great job."
