Donovan, Galaxy rally, repeat as MLS champion

Landon Donovan scored the tiebreaking goal on a penalty kick in the 65th minute, and David Beckham left Major League Soccer as a two-time champion with the Los Angeles Galaxy's 3-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup on Saturday in Carson, Calif.

Omar Gonzalez tied the score in the 61st minute with a long header for the Galaxy, who defended their title in a rematch of last season's championship game.

With a stirring second-half surge capped by Robbie Keane's goal on another penalty kick in injury time, Los Angeles won its fourth MLS Cup, tying D.C. United for the MLS record.

The Galaxy also gave an appropriate farewell to Beckham, the 37-year-old English midfielder who transformed the league and his team over six seasons in Los Angeles. He will play elsewhere in the new year before eventually returning to MLS as a team owner, but he hasn't disclosed his immediate plans.

After Calen Carr put Houston ahead in the 44th minute, Beckham and his high-scoring teammates systematically broke down the defense of the Dynamo, who lost the MLS Cup 1-0 to Los Angeles on the same field last year.

Donovan missed an open net in the 13th minute but redeemed himself by scoring on his penalty kick after a Houston handball in the box. The U.S. national team star, who is also contemplating a departure from soccer, won his record-tying fifth MLS title while scoring his fifth career MLS Cup goal and the record 22nd goal of his postseason career.

Not brought back: The San Francisco Giants didn't offer a contract to Brian Wilson late Friday, making the closer a free agent as he recovers from a second ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow.

Offered a ride: Roger Penske gave Tony Stewart the chance to return to the Indianapolis 500 next year if the NASCAR star desires. It seemed like a throwaway line in a speech, but Penske later said he was serious.

Still in front: Graeme McDowell rolled in two long putts early and kept bogeys off his card of 4-under-par 68 to keep the lead in the World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif., two shots ahead of Keegan Bradley.

Scored two more goals: Lionel Messi for Barcelona in a 5-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao. He is one goal shy of Gerd Mueller's record of 85 goals for club and country in a calendar year, set in 1972.