MLS: BUDDLE FINALLY ARRIVES FOR L.A. SCORES WINNING GOAL FOR GALAXY GALAXY 2, TORONTO 1.

Byline: BILLY WITZ

Staff Writer

CARSON -- It took fourmonths after Galaxy forward Edson Buddle's trade from Toronto for his belongings to arrive in Los Angeles, customs officials finally releasing most of his clothes, his pots and pans and his prized DVD player this week.

On Saturday night, Buddle's right foot arrived, too.

And not a moment too soon for the Galaxy.

Buddle's 79th-minute goal, which came two minutes after he entered the game as a third forward, lifted the Galaxy to its fifth straight victory, a 2-1 win over Toronto at Home Depot Center.

A draw wouldn't have eliminated the Galaxy, but not getting three points against a group of visitors who have lost more than anyone else in MLS, were missing their two top goal scorers and who played the final 35 minutes with 10 men wouldn't have helped.

As it was, the victory kept the Galaxy in control of its playoff fate as the regular season enters its final week. The Galaxy (33points, 9-13-6) trails Chicago and Kansas City, which each have 37 points and one game remaining, for the final two playoff berths.

If the Galaxy wins both of its final games -- Thursday against New York and next Sunday at Chicago -- it is guaranteed a playoff berth.

The Galaxy could still get in with a win and a tie if Kansas City loses its finale Saturday at D.C. United. A tie with New York and a win over Chicago would also get the Galaxy in.

"At this point, we all know we needed three points," Galaxy coach Frank Yallop said. "The guys dug in and did what they needed to do."

In the past month, most everything the Galaxy has needed to break in its favor has -- and Saturday night it was the moves made by Yallop.

After a first half in which Toronto often played all 11 men behind the ball, giving the Galaxy possession but no space to do much with it, Yallop turned to two substitutes to spark the offense.

He sent on Gavin Glinton in the 55th minute, and two minutes later, Glinton latched onto a long ball and was dragged down in the box by Marco Reda, earning the Galaxy a penalty kick and Reda a red card.

Landon Donovan converted the penalty, which appeared to be enough against Toronto FC, which earlier this season went seven games without scoring and was without its two top scorers, Danny Dichio and Maurice Edu.

But Toronto forward Collin Samuel, who had been dangerous much of the second half, shrugged off Mike Randolph to run down a long pass and blast the ball past Joe Cannon to even the score in the 69th minute.

"Earlier in the year that would have killed us," Donovan said. "Say what you want about the way we played, but we were playing to win. We had to throw caution to the wind."

So, in the 77th minute, on came Buddle, who had been hamstrung by a sore hamstring and hadn't played in more than a month. Two minutes later, he put the Galaxy ahead.

"This was one we had to have," said Buddle, who was traded by Toronto after not having scored for the team in two months. "It didn't matter that it was against Toronto. It just felt good to contribute."

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Photo:

The Galaxy's Carlos Pavon, right, looks to play the ball over Toronto FC's Tyler Hemming on Saturday at Home Depot Center.

Victor Decolongon/Getty Images