Victor Bernardez scored on a free kick deep into stoppage time Sunday night to lift the Earthquakes to a 1-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Galaxy in the opener of their Western Conference semifinal series in Carson.
The Honduran defender blistered the ball from 31 yards through the Galaxy wall at the top of the box and off goalkeeper Josh Saunders, who was unable to keep it from crossing the goal line.
The second leg in the aggregate series is Wednesday in Santa Clara, with the winner advancing to a home-and-home matchup with the Seattle Sounders or Real Salt Lake for a berth in the Dec. 1 MLS Cup final.
Czech Republic repeats in Fed Cup
• The Czech Republic won its second straight Fed Cup when Lucie Safarova routed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-1, 6-1 in Prague.
Safarova gave the Czech Republic a 3-1 lead in the best-of-five series. Jankovic, a former No. 1 player, was slowed by a back injury and was in tears afterward.
The Czechs took a 2-0 lead after the opening singles Saturday, but Ana Ivanovic made it 2-1 Sunday by beating Petra Kvitova 6-3, 7-5. It was the first loss for Kvitova after 11 straight Fed Cup singles wins.
The Czech Republic is the third country in a row to win two consecutive Fed Cup titles. Russia won the top prize in women's team tennis in 2007 and 2008 and Italy in 2009 and 2010.
• Second-seeded Nadia Petrova stunned top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-1 to win the Tournament of Champions in Sofia, Bulgaria, for her third WTA title of the year.
The Tournament of Champions is the final event of the year on the WTA calendar. It featured the six highest-ranked players who have won a title during the season but didn't qualify for the WTA Championships, plus two wild cards.
• Fourth-seeded David Ferrer ended the amazing run of Polish qualifier Jerzy Janowicz 6-4, 6-3 at the Paris Masters, earning his first Masters title and winning a tour-leading seventh trophy of the season.
The 69th-ranked Janowicz eliminated five top-20 players, including No. 3 Andy Murray, to reach the final. Ferrer's seven titles are one more than Roger Federer, who did not defend his Paris crown.
Lolo Jones named to bobsled team
• Lolo Jones' international bobsled debut will come at the sport's highest level – the World Cup circuit.
The Olympic hurdler was one of three women's push athletes selected to compete for the United States in this weekend's World Cup opener in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Jones, who tried the sport for the first time last month, will be in the back of USA-3 with Jazmine Fenlator as her pilot.
• Heather Richardson won the 1,500 meters to complete a sweep of all five races at the U.S. Long Track Speedskating Championships in West Allis, Wis.
General
• Sportswear company Skins is suing cycling's governing body for $2 million, claiming its brand has been damaged by backing the sport as the Lance Armstrong doping scandal unraveled.
• Rhythm of Light won the $150,000 Goldikova Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita in Arcadia on closing day of the autumn meet.
– Associated Press
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