Landon Donovan scored in the 42nd minute and Donovan Ricketts made four saves for his seventh shutout in the Los Angeles Galaxy's 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire on Friday night.
With their second victory in three games, the Galaxy (11-6-11) took a one-point lead over Houston atop the Western Conference.
Los Angeles will qualify for the playoffs for the first time since its 2005 championship season if D.C. United loses to or ties Chivas USA on Saturday night.
The Fire (10-7-11) have a five-game winless streak.
Donovan scored his 11th goal of the season -- and first since Aug. 19 -- after Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez cleared Peter Lowry's corner kick with a header and David Beckham started a counterattack. Chris Klein passed to an unmarked Donovan, who chipped a 19-yard shot over Chicago goalkeeper Jon Busch into an open net.
Ricketts made diving stops on 25-yard shots by Brian McBride in the 27th minute and Marco Pappa in the 37th.
Chicago had a chance to tie in second-half stoppage time, when Stefan Dimitrov's shot bounced off a defender to Brandon Prideaux, who took a 5-yard shot on his back. However, the shot was blocked and Ricketts pounced on the ball.
Fire midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco did not travel with the team because of a strained left hamstring. Chicago also played without midfielder John Thorrington due to a strained groin.
SOURCE: The Associated Press
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