The Los Angeles Galaxy lifted the Dewar Trophy at home, defeating FC Dallas 1-0 at The Home Depot Center.

The first quarter-hour was played at a cautious pace, understandable since both clubs had played hard-fought league matches a few days before. Towards the middle of the opening half, the pace of play began to pick up. Joseph Ngwenya created a chance for Los Angeles in the 24th minute, dribbling between a pair of Dallas defenders before firing a shot that went wide of the left post. Another minute was all the Galaxy needed to get it right the second time. Chris Albright sent a cross from the end line to Herculez Gomez, who connected with an acrobatic scissors kick to give the home side a 1-0 lead. Dallas were inches away from equalizing just before half time, with Clarence Goodsons header skipping off the top of the crossbar. LA almost took a 2-0 lead, when Landon Donovan just missed pasty the post, Cobi Jones inches away from tapping the ball in.

The Match took an ugly turn in the 59th minute, after a hard foul on Ngwenya from Goodson. A shoving match ensued between the two, soon joined by other players. Goodson, Ngwenya and Dallas’s Mark Wilson were all cautioned in the aftermath. Los Angeles were not content to sit on their 1-0 lead, and continued to attack the Dallas defense. Gomez very nearly scored his second of the game, intercepting a lazy back pass, getting by Dallas ’keeper Scott Garlick and shooting towards and empty net, only to see the ball strike the right post. After numerous failed chances for Los Angeles, the last gasp for the Hoops came in stoppage time, when Mark Wilson sent a dipping volley from just outside the penalty area that forced Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman to tip over the crossbar.

Gomez’s goal gave him 6 for the 2005 Cup, tying him with Minnesota’s Melvin Tarley for the LHUSOC Golden Boot. The win gave Los Angeles their second Dewar Trophy, their first coming in 2001 after defeating the New England Revolution. The Galaxy would go on to claim a league and cup double, defeating New England on November 13 to claim the MLS title.

September 28, 2005 - Final

Thw Home Depot Center - Carson, California

Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 FC Dallas

Goals: 25’ Herculez Gomez (LAG)

Lineups

Los Angeles:  Kevin Hartman - GK, Chris Albright, Ugo Ihemelu, Tyrone Marshall, Todd Dunivant,

Cobi Jones, Marcelo Saragosa, Peter Vagenas, Landon Donovan, Joseph Ngwenya, Herculez Gomez

FC Dallas: Scott Garlick - GK, Bobby Rhine, Clarence Goodson, Greg Vanney, David Wagenfuhr,

Arturo Alvarez, Ronnie O’Brien, Carey Talley, Mark Wilson, Ramon Nunez, Roberto Mina

Substitutions

Los Angeles: 90’+ Michael Umana for Herculez Gomez, 90’+ Alan Gordon for Joseph Ngwenya

FC Dallas: 53’ Oscar Pareja for Ronnie O’Brien, 54’ Aaron Pitchkolan for Carey Talley,

69’ Abe Thompson for Arturo Alvarez, Steve Jolley for Bobby Rhine

Discipline

Cautions: 9’ Bobby Rhine (DAL), 59’ Clarence Goodson (DAL),

59’ MArk Wilson (DAL), 59’ Joeph Ngwenya (LAG), 60’ Herculez Gomez (LAG)

Expulsions: None

Match Stats

Shots: LAG 18, DAL 9  Saves: LAG 1, DAL 6  Fouls: LAG 16, DAL 23 

Offside: LAG 4, DAL 0  Corners: LAG 8, DAL 6

Referee: Alex Prus

Assistant Referees: Nathan Clement, Kermit Quisenberry

Att: 10,000