CARSON, Calif. -- The LA Galaxy forged through to the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals Wednesday night, but it didn't come easy and required a late strike to avoid an upset.
Alan Gordon's fourth of the competition, an 83rd-minute strike from a nifty sequence, provided the 1-1 road draw with Trinidad and Tobago's Central FC, clinching LA's fourth CCL group-stage title in five years.
They join D.C. United and Mexico's Queretaro in next year's knockout stage, and their Oct. 21 Group D finale against Comunicaciones in Guatemala City will solely determine seeding.
Central went ahead right at the start, with a superb goal from Trinidad and Tobago national-teamer Willis Plaza, but the Caribbean champions would have been eliminated even had they held on for the victory. The Galaxy's massive goal difference, following a 5-0 rout of the Sharks and a 5-1 romp over Comunicaciones in their home encounters, was going to require an outlandish scoreline or two to overcome.
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Gordon's goal, from a Raul Mendiola square ball after nice work from rookie Ignacio Magantoon the right flank, ended a 361-minute goalless streak across all competitions for the Galaxy, who were in danger of being shut out for their fourth straight game.
The victory didn't come without a price. Baggio Husidic, just back from a lengthy calf injury, departed after hurting his left knee in the 13th minute. Mika Väyrynen also left with fatigue, exiting after he was taken down in the 69th minute for Mendiola, who played his first first-team minutes since suffering a concussion in LA's Aug. 6 victory in the group opener against Central.
The Galaxy traveled with only 16 players, leaving their entire first-choice XI in Southern California, and started only three players -- Husidic, Väyrynen and right back Dan Gargan -- with 10 or more MLS starts this season.
LA started poorly, as has become custom in recent weeks, with Central going ahead in the second minute and continuing to outhustle the Galaxy the rest of the half.
Plaza scored from the right side of the box, taking a couple of touches after collecting a Marvin Oliver chip over LA's defense, then beating goalkeeper Brian Rowe to the far post.
The Galaxy struggled to penetrate or create chances, but Väyrynen forced goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams, another T&T international, to make a leaping save in the 26th minute, parrying a 30-yard rocket over the crossbar.
Edson Buddle had a decent chance in the 41st, avoiding two defenders to send a hard shot at Williams, but the Galaxy were fortunate not to fall further behind in stoppage. A Plaza ball left Nicholas Dillon one-on-one with Rowe, but he whiffed on his try, and Rowe got a piece of the second attempt, with the ball ricocheting well away from danger.
Jose Villarreal's first appearance since sustaining a knee injury in a July 11 International Champions Cup friendly against Club America, off the bench in the 58th minute, prompted LA's best soccer of the evening. The Galaxy put heavy pressure on the Sharks much of the second half but legitimate opportunities were hard to come by.
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Both teams had chances through the first half-hour or so after the break, but Rowe handled a low Oliver shot in the 61st minute and Plaza fired wide left after Tommy Meyer's attempt to dispossess the forward send him one-on-one when the ball caromed toward the box.
Williams parried another long shot over his bar -- a 26-yard Villarreal free kick in the 69th minute -- then swatted away a near-post Meyer header off the ensuing corner kick.
Gordon struck after the Galaxy worked the ball to Maganto on the right flank, and the Spaniard cut in while retreating to beat two defenders, then slipped the ball into box. Mendiola squared it with his first touch, and Gordon first-timed it to the left side of the net.
The Galaxy are back in action Sunday at StubHub Center in a vital Western Conference showdown with FC Dallas (9:30 pm ET, FS1). Central opens TT Pro League play Saturday at Point Fortin Civic.
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