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Out of this world Olympian Califf scores OT winner for Galaxy
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- Danny Califf scored in the third minute of sudden-death overtime to lead the Los Angeles Galaxy past the Kansas City Wizards 2-1 on Tuesday night in the semifinals of the Major League Soccer playoffs. More than 20,000 people at the Rose Bowl watched Los Angeles take a 4-1 lead in points as the team heads to the decisive third game, to be held Friday night in Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium. Each victory counts as three points, with ties worth one point. The first team to earn five points will go to MLS Cup 2000, the league final. If Friday night's game is tied after regulation, both teams will play two 5-minute halves of sudden-death overtime. If neither team scores during the first set of overtime halves, Los Angeles advances to the final. But if Kansas City wins in regulation or after the first overtime, the Wizards tie the series and two 10-minutes periods of sudden-death overtime will follow. If the series remains tied, penalty kicks will determine the outcome. "L.A. had better be prepared for a war," Kansas City forward Mo Johnston said. "We are a team that will battle to the end, and we're not done yet." Califf, who arrived in Los Angeles Saturday after playing in the Olympics, scored off a corner kick from Cobi Jones. Califf beat Kansas City's Matt McKeon and executed a 7-yard header that bounced inside the left post. "Kuwait was a big goal," Califf said about his goal against that nation in the Olympics. "But this ranks right up there with it." Jones gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute. The Galaxy's Ezra Hendrickson eluded Kansas City defender Brandon Prideaux near the right end line and passed to an unmarked Jones, who converted from 7 yards inside the left post. McKeon tied the score in the 29th minute with a 30-yard free kick into the upper-left corner of the net. Johnston had a chance to tie the score 10 minutes earlier but Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman dived to his right to stop Johnston's 13-yard volley. Hartman made another critical save in the 82nd minute. He deflected Miklos Molnar's 15-yard line drive with his right hand, and defender Danny Califf cleared the ball. Wizards goalkeeper Tony Meola made a crucial save in the 76th minute. Mauricio Cienfuegos' 11-yard line drive ricocheted off Meola's right foot.
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