GALAXY OUT OF PLAYOFF PICTURE FC DALLAS 2, GALAXY 1.

Byline: Staff and Wire Services

FRISCO, Texas -- The only team never to miss Major League Soccer's playoffs won't take part this year. The Galaxy, the defending MLS Cup champion, was eliminated from the Western Conference race Saturday night with a 2-1 loss at FC Dallas.

Richard Mulrooney set up two goals and FC Dallas clinched the Western title and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Hoops (16-11-4), who have never reached an MLS championship game, would be home for the Nov. 12 final, which will be played at Pizza Hut Park.

Landon Donovan scored in the 71st minute, his 10th goal of the season, to halve L.A.'s deficit, but the Galaxy (10-15-6) couldn't overcome former L.A. star Carlos Ruiz's 30th-minute header and Kenny Cooper's strike two minutes into the second half.

Ruiz, with his 13th goal, scored off Mulrooney's free kick; Cooper, with his 11th, from Ronnie O'Brien's cross on a sequence started by Mulrooney. Chris Albright, victimized on both goals, set up Donovan's tally with a cross from the right flank.

The Galaxy, the only MLS team to reach the postseason in each of the first 10 seasons, couldn't rally from a 2-10-2 start. Frank Yallop, who guided the San Jose Earthquakes to two MLS titles, turned the team around at midseason. After climbing back into the playoff chase last month, the Galaxy has won just one of its past fiveregular-season games.

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Photo:

FC Dallas' Drew Moor, right, keeps the ball away from the Galaxy's Landon Donovan.

Juan Garcia/Associated Press