CARSON, Calif. - Few people thought the Vancouver Whitecaps had a chance of pulling off an upset. Even when they held a surprising lead early Thursday night, it seemed like just a matter of time before the star-studded Los Angeles Galaxy would take control. In the end, thats exactly what happened. Landon Donovans penalty goal in the 73rd minute brought Vancouvers Major League Soccer season to a crashing conclusion with a 2-1 playoff loss to the Galaxy. "To take the (defending) champions in their own place and really give them a good go, we feel like we deserve more after that 95 minutes (including stoppage time)," said Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit, who left the game with a groin injury in the second half shortly before the sequence that led to Donovans goal. L.A., which finished fourth in the Western Conference, will now meet the first-place San Jose Earthquakes in a two-game, total-goals series, starting at home Sunday. The second game goes Wednesday in San Jose. L.A. had earned home-field advantage in the do-or-die game by finishing fourth in the Western Conference. The Whitecaps, the first Canadian team to reach the MLS post-season, placed fifth. "Our determination was good," said Donovan. "You kind of just got the sense that they were going to wear out and, sure enough, in the second half, they started to open up a little." Mike Magee also scored for Los Angeles. Darren Mattocks scored Vancouvers lone goal, giving the Whitecaps an early 1-0 lead that they retained valiantly until the 69th minute. "The seasons finality, that just kind of hits you," said Whitecaps midfielder John Thorrington. "We were playing for this game thinking that we (had) a shot. I dont think many people did give us a chance, but we knew that we could put out a game plan that could cause them some problems, and I think it worked." The Whitecaps posted just three victories in the second half of the 34-game regular season, but looked like they would pull off a major upset after Mattocks scored when the game had barely begun. "If something goes our way, and we get that goal — 2-0 — and were knocking out the defending champions, but it wasnt meant to be," said Thorrington. "But Im really proud. You cant fault our effort. Everybody out there gave everything to win. But, unfortunately, were packing our bags and were not playing San Jose." Donovan was awarded the spot kick after Whitecaps second-half substitute Martin Bonjour knocked him down from behind. The foul came just a minute after Bonjour entered the game for DeMerit. Magee tied the game in the 69th minute as he volleyed a Juninho cross behind Vancouver goalkeeper Brad Knighton from the centre of the 18-yard box. The play originated with a David Beckham cross, one of many that he made or attempted on the night, often with little success. L.A. pressed several times in the first half, but the scoring attempts were either thwarted by timely Vancouver defensive plays, including a number of blocked shots, or saves by Knighton, who made his first career MLS start. "Its always frustrating when you go up a goal and you dont pull it out," said Thorrington. "We knew theyd get chances. Knighton had a couple huge saves." Mattocks opened the scoring in just the fourth minute. Midfielder Matt Watson broke down the left flank with the ball and put a slight-angle pass back to Mattocks in the middle of L.A.s 18-yard box. The Jamaican striker then put a low shot into the right corner of the Galaxy net. The goal was the first Whitecaps first-ever goal against the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center. Vancouver had gone seven games without an away goal before then. "It was just a matter of going out there and taking our chances and trying to catch them on a counter — and we did," said Knighton. "Its just unfortunate that we came up short." Mattocks left the game in the 59th minute, limping off with an apparent leg injury. The striker said after the game he felt pain in his stomach. Scottish striker Kenny Miller, who has come under criticism for his lack of scoring, took his place. After Donovan scored, Whitecaps assistant coach Paul Ritchie was ejected for heckling referee Siliviu Petrescu from the bench. Notes: With a crowd on hand of 14,703, the game was not a sellout. The upper stands were not used and the lower bowl had many empty seats. ... Whitecaps winger Omar Salgado did not dress because of a sore foot. He recently returned from a broken foot, suffered while playing for the U.S. under-20 team in Uruguay in the spring, that sidelined him for more than three months. … Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash, a Whitecaps minority owner, did not attend the game as planned. The Victoria native is recuperating from a leg contusion sustained Wednesday against the Trail Blazers in Portland. … Beckham and Donovan played after being questionable due to nagging injuries. cheap nfl jerseys china . ODea, 25, began his youth career with Glasgow Celtic FC and made his team debut for Celtic in September 2006. Wholesale Jerseys . Halischuk was chasing for the puck toward the side boards when Klesla pushed the Predators forward from behind, causing him to fall awkwardly into the boards. Halischuk left for the dressing room after the hit but returned to finish the game. http://www.bizcheapjerseys.com/ . Balazs is also the first Canadian to gain a spot in an Olympic marathon swimming race. Canada had no entries in 2008 when open water swimming made its Olympic debut in Beijing. Wholesale Jerseys from china . Balls regularly clear the fences and drive people in when he faces San Franciscos two-time NL Cy Young Award winner. Wholesale nfl Jerseys . "My relationship with Penn State and everything was a great experience and they gave me some excellent opportunities," Silas Redd told reporters Monday night. BRISBANE, Australia -- World Anti-Doping Agency president John Fahey says Lance Armstrongs decision not to contest doping charges against him was an admission that the allegations "had substance in them." Fahey told The Associated Press on Friday that he was certain the United States Anti-Doping Agency acted properly in their investigations of the seven-time Tour de France champion. "I am confident and WADA is confident that the USADA acted within the WADA code, and that a court in Texas also decided not to interfere," Fahey said in a telephone interview. "They now have the right to apply a penalty that will be recognized by all WADA code countries around the world." On Thursday in his hometown of Austin, Texas, the 40-year-old Armstrong said he was innocent, but had decided against fighting the USADA because he was weary of the prolonged legal dispute. The USADA said it would impose a lifetime ban on Armstrong, and planned to strip him of the seven Tour titles he won from 1999-2005. Armstrong sued the USADA in Austin in an attempt to block the case, but a judge threw it out on Monday, siding with USADA despite questioning the agencys pursuit of American cyclist in his retirement. Fahey said Armstrong must now live with the consequences of his decision not to continue fighting allegations against him. "He had a right to contesst the charges.dddddddddddd He chose not to," Fahey said. "The simple fact is that his refusal to examine the evidence means the charges had substance in them. Under the rules, penalties can now be imposed." The International Cycling Union (UCI) was expected to make an announcement of its stance on Friday. It had backed Armstrongs legal challenge to USADAs authority. When asked whether USADA had the authority to strip Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles, Fahey replied: "Olympic medals and titles are for other agencies to decide, not WADA." Travis Tygart, USADAs chief executive, said Armstrong would be hit with a lifetime ban on Friday. Under the WADA Code, he could lose other awards, event titles and cash earnings while the International Olympic Committee might look at the bronze medal he won in the 2000 Games. Armstrong said in his statement Thursday that USADAs investigation was an "unconstitutional witch hunt." "There comes a point in every mans life when he has to say, Enough is enough. For me, that time is now," Armstrong said. "I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999. The toll this has taken on my family and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today -- finished with this nonsense." ' ' '