CARSON, Calif. -- Although the Los Angeles Galaxy opened their MLS title defence with the result Landon Donovan wanted, hes hoping they dont regret their missed chances to make it even better. Sean Franklin scored on a dramatic 27-yard strike just after halftime, and the Galaxy began their run at a third straight league championship with a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on Sunday night in the first leg of the Western Conference semifinals. Franklins first goal in more than five months provided a small advantage for the third-seeded Galaxy when the clubs head to Utah on Thursday for the second leg. The Galaxy were good, dominating possession and effectively shuttering Reals attack, but they could have been even better. Donovan and Robbie Keane had numerous chances up front throughout the match, but repeatedly failed to provide additional cushion for the Galaxy. "We put a lot of pressure on them throughout the night, so theres going to be some cracks," Donovan said. "Robbie and I need to do a better job with our counterattacks. Usually were better than that. I have a feeling were going to have a lot more chances Thursday as the game goes on as they open up and expose themselves, and were fine with that." Jaime Penedo posted his fifth shutout in 10 MLS matches for the Galaxy, who are in search of their league-record fifth MLS Cup title. Los Angeles is trying to become the first MLS team to win three consecutive titles despite losing two key components of its previous championship teams: star midfielder David Beckham and goal-scorer Mike Magee. The Galaxy are in prime position to make that run, but a couple of extra goals would have helped from an otherwise one-sided game. Keane barely missed a goal on a breakaway in the 85th minute, pushing a low shot just wide of the far post. The Irish international star scored 16 MLS goals for the second straight regular season. "We certainly left a few chances out there, but we cant score every time," Keane said. "I wasnt connecting with the ball properly. You have nights like this. Its not something Im going to lose any sleep over." Salt Lake, which had a four-game unbeaten streak and a lengthy break before the playoffs, might have a sleepless night after an ineffective performance at StubHub Center. Los Angeles largely controlled the flow against second-seeded Salt Lake in a matchup of franchises with three of the last four MLS titles between them. "On a different night, Keane and Donovan are going to kill you on those," Real coach Jason Kreis said. "We werent good enough. We gave the ball away cheaply so many times in so many dangerous spots. ... Players need to be better. Were just missing some simple passes. Our better players need to be better, and they will." Keane and Donovan both missed on impressive runs in the opening minutes, and Reals Chris Schuler slid in from behind to knock the ball off Donovans foot at the goalmouth in the 42nd minute. But Franklin thrilled the Galaxys lively sellout crowd in the 47th minute when he collected an errant pass from Keane well outside the penalty area and put a rocket of a shot inside Nick Rimandos left post. Franklin, a stalwart defender, hadnt scored since May 26. "The ball just came out on top of the box, and I had time and space to hit it," Franklin said. "Once I opened my eyes up, the ball was in the back of the net." Real had its best chance in the 80th minute, but substitute forward Devon Sandoval fell down on contact with a Los Angeles defender while closing in on Luis Gils pass in front of the Galaxy goal. Los Angeles entered the playoffs unbeaten in four straight games after allowing just one goal in its entire October schedule. The Galaxy have never lost in the two-leg conference semifinals since MLS adopted the playoff format in 2003, advancing eight times. These clubs met in the MLS Cup final in 2009, with Real Salt Lake winning its only league title on penalty kicks. Custom Jerseys From China . Heck, we might just miss the BCS. Maybe? It sort of worked out this season. Top-ranked Florida State (13-0) was the only team to get through the regular season unbeaten, and the Seminoles did it in dominating fashion. Cheap Custom Jerseys China .Y. -- Florida Panthers captain Ed Jovanovski finally has something to show for all the pain he went through in overcoming a string of injuries that kept him sidelined for much of the past two years. http://www.jerseyscustom.us/. So true. It is one thing to create a winning football team, and another to keep it winning. Each and every week it changes. The NFL creates a unique interest of not who is "the best", but much more who is "the best this week". China Custom Jerseys Store . Pearce had a career-high four hits and drove in two runs, and Wei-Yin Chen shut down Texas again as the Orioles completed a four-game sweep of the Rangers with a 5-2 victory on Thursday night. Wholesale Custom Jerseys Authentic . -- Even as Chris Paul remained evasive about his future, he did what team leaders are expected to do.San Francisco acquired veteran right-hander Jake Peavy on Saturday with one purpose in mind. Beat the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hell get a chance to continue a careers worth of dominance against them on Sunday in his San Francisco debut, as Giants try to avoid a three-game sweep at AT&T Park. Watch the Giants vs. Dodgers live tonight on TSN at 8pm et/5pm pt. A former National League Cy Young Award winner with the San Diego Padres, Peavy was 1-9 with a 4.72 ERA in 20 outings for the Boston Red Sox this season. However, his run support average of 2.76 was the second-lowest among all AL starting pitchers. "This is what I showed up to do at the beginning of the year: to try and win a World Series, and this team certainly knows how to get that done," Peavy said. "It starts with getting in and trying to win your division. To be thrown right into the middle of that, as I was last year, its exciting for me." Of course, Peavy will also be reunited with his former manager, Bruce Bochy, who was his skipper with the Padres. "Ive always admired how he plays the game. Hes all-out, full-bore in everything he does. Hes a guy you want on your club," Bochy said of Peavy, whose nickname is, appropriately, Bulldog. "Hes as tough of a competitor as any player Ive ever had; these guys are going to love him and his approach to the game. "Im excited about having Jake here and I know hes excited about coming back to the National League and this division." Perhaps the most important reason Peavy was obtained is the fact that he is an incredible 14-2 lifetime versus the DDodgers with a 2.dddddddddddd21 ERA in 25 starts. Hes limited the Dodgers current roster to a combined .177 average with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 113 at-bats. On Aug. 25 last season, Peavy pitched a complete-game three-hitter at Dodger Stadium, allowing just one run. Peavy jumps right into the fire on Sunday, as the Giants fell a half-game back of the Dodgers in the NL West on Saturday thanks to another brilliant effort from Clayton Kershaw. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner tossed a two-hit shutout to win his ninth straight decision in the Dodgers 5-0 triumph. "Most clubs are trying to do now is get him early, and when you do that and you dont get him, you get a low pitch count," LA manager Don Mattingly said. After totaling eight runs on 15 hits on Friday, the Dodgers finished with 11 base knocks on Saturday. Adrian Gonzalez went 3-for-5 with an RBI, Juan Uribe had a pair of hits and two runs batted in and Carl Crawford scored twice. The Giants have now dropped their last three. "When youre going against one of the best you have to find a way to scratch and claw for runs," Bochy said. While Peavy will be debuting for the Giants, the Dodgers will also be throwing an impressive hurler in Hyun-Jin Ryu, who is 11-5 with a 3.39 ERA. Ryu won his second straight start on Monday in Pittsburgh, as he held the Pirates to a pair of runs and five hits in seven innings. Ryu is 3-3 in seven starts versus the Giants with a 3.24 ERA. Despite the two losses to start this series, San Francisco is still 7-5 versus the Dodgers this season. ' ' '