Galaxy 1 Houston Dynamo 0

With Beckham out of the picture, it fell to Donovan to star in this home game against Houston. It was right on half-time when Houston gave away a penalty for handball in the area and Donovan coolly slotted the ball away sending the keeper the wrong way.

Before that, chances had been few and far between, with The Galaxy maybe slightly in the ascendency.

In the second half, galaxy pressed Houston and established superiority in the game without ever getting that second goal. Birchall came close near the end having carried the ball through the defence, his finishing left a great deal to be desired.

It wasn't until the final 10 minutes that anything like a threat on the Galaxy goal actually materialised, but nothing that the Galaxy defence could not match.

The game finishes 1-0, a good result if not a great performance, Donovan departs for international duty for a few weeks, but Beckham returns for the next game against New England Revolution on Saturday.