Columbus, OH – The Los Angeles Galaxy were just fine without David Beckham and Robbie Keane on Saturday night.
Even if it took longer than 90 minutes to do what they've done all year: win.
Chad Barrett scored three minutes into injury time and Los Angeles downed the Columbus Crew, 1-0, on Saturday at Crew Stadium in Major League Soccer.
Beckham and Keane were both left off the roster, and Landon Donovan started on the bench. But Donovan entered in the second half, and his shot deep in extra time resulted in a rebound that Barrett fired home from close range.
Barrett's fifth goal of the season handed L.A. (17-3-10) its league-high 17th victory of the season as it won for the fifth time in its last six and for the eighth time in its last 10.
The Galaxy sit comfortably atop the Western Conference, and took another step toward the Supporters' Shield - given to the team with the best record in the regular season.
Columbus (11-11-8) lost for the fourth time during a five-game winless streak, and dropped out of first place in the Eastern Conference.
The Crew trail the Houston Dynamo by one point, are even with Sporting Kansas City, and just two ahead of the Philadelphia Union. The top six clubs in the East are separated by just four points.