Galaxy One Win From Playoffs
Harut Karapetyan, Danny Pena and Cobi Jones scored goals Sunday as the Galaxy defeated the Dallas Burn, 3-1, in front of 9,032 at the Cotton Bowl to move within a victory of a berth in Major League Soccer’s playoffs.
Martin Machon assisted on the first two goals, setting up Karapetyan right before halftime and tapping a free kick into Pena’s path in the 60th minute.
Jones made it 3-0 five minutes later, beating Burn goalkeeper Mark Dodd to a loose ball in the penalty area and putting it into the empty net.
Jorge Campos lost his shutout bid in the 88th minute when he was beaten by a chip shot from Mark Santel. The Burn, which already has clinched a playoff spot, fell to 15-14.
The Galaxy (13-16) needs to win only one of its final three regular-season games, or have the San Jose Clash lose a game, to make the playoffs.
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A.J. Wood scored one goal and helped set up another as the Columbus Crew defeated the Kansas City Wizards, 4-0, in front of 15,132 at Ohio Stadium.
The victory ended a two-game losing streak for the Crew (13-16). Kansas City (20-10) already has clinched a playoff spot.
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In qualifying play for the 1998 World Cup in France, Jamaica shut out Costa Rica, 1-0, to move ahead of the United States into second place behind Mexico in the regional standings.
Deon Burton scored 11 minutes into the second half at Kingston, where Jamaica is unbeaten in 29 consecutive games. Costa Rica (2-4-2) has lost three of its last four.
Mexico (3-0-2) leads the six-nation group with 11 points, ahead of Jamaica (3-2-2) on goal difference although they are tied on points. The U.S. (2-1-3), which plays Jamaica on Oct. 3 at RFK Stadium in Washington, is third with nine points. The top three teams qualify.
El Salvador (2-2-3) routed Canada, 4-1, in San Salvador and trails the U.S. only on goal difference.
Nidilson de Mello, William Renderos, the Galaxy’s Mauricio Cienfuegos and Raul Diaz Arce scored for El Salvador. Alex Bunbury scored for Canada (1-4-2).
In Asian qualifying, Saudi Arabia defeated Kuwait, 2-1, at Riyadh in the final-round opener for both teams.
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Diego Maradona, his career hanging in the balance after failing a drug test two weeks ago, scored on a penalty kick to help Boca Juniors defeat Newell’s Old Boys, 2-1, in an Argentine League game.
Maradona, 36, passed a now mandatory doping test before the game and later toyed with the idea of retirement.
“It’s an ace I have up my sleeve which could come out at any moment,” he said. “I’m tired of so many lies and everything that is being said about me.
“Every time I go to the bathroom at home, they ask me if I’m going to do a doping test. I’ve had enough.”
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Brazil and Germany advanced to the semifinals of the FIFA Under-17 World Championship in Cairo, Egypt.
Two goals from Fabio Pinto earned Brazil a 2-0 victory over Argentina, while Germany edged Mali, 4-3, on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie. German goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller made two key saves in the shootout.
Brazil plays the Ghana-Oman winner in Thursday’s semifinal. Germany plays the Spain-Egypt winner.
