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Carson, Calif. • The L.A. Galaxy spent most of a tense, chippy match deep in Seattle's end, and Marcelo Sarvas finally drove home the goal that put them on top of the Western Conference championship series.

The Galaxy realize they've got much more work to do when these MLS powers head north next weekend to finish their season-long rivalry.

Sarvas scored in the 52nd minute, and the Galaxy opened the conference finals with a 1-0 victory over the Sounders on Sunday.

Jaime Penedo posted his third straight shutout for the Galaxy, who still haven't conceded a playoff goal this season.

Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane and the Galaxy also haven't lost at home since their season opener in March, and they kept the Supporters' Shield-winning Sounders off the scoresheet in a match filled with these teams' usual fouls and ferocity.

"I wouldn't say we're comfortable, but it's a good position," Keane said. "The most important thing today was not to concede a goal, and we also managed to get one."

The clubs play their second leg Nov. 30 on Seattle's artificial turf. The Galaxy could advance with a variety of results, because the tiebreaker is away goals.

The winner hosts the MLS Cup on Dec. 7.

"We're full of confidence going there," said Donovan, who will retire after the season. "It's going to be even more physical next week, and that's OK. We can handle that."

Seattle played without forward Lamar Neagle, who left the team "to deal with a serious personal matter," according to a statement. The Sounders also didn't have midfielder Osvaldo Alonso, who sat with a hamstring injury.

Seattle stars Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey both had a handful of opportunities, but the Galaxy kept their sheet clean. The Sounders' frustration was encapsulated when Penedo made a spectacular double save against close-range strikes by Martins and Dempsey in the 20th minute.

Revolution 2, Red Bulls 1 • In Harrison, N.J., Jermaine Jones finished a counterattack the 85th minute with a tap-in and gave New England a victory in the first leg of the Eastern Conference finals.

The result gives the Revolution a significant advantage heading home for the second leg of the aggregate-goals series on Saturday at Gillette Stadium.

Jones knocked in a cross inside the six from Teal Bunbury, who sent the ball across from the right after Lee Nguyen started the break in midfield. Bunbury gave the Revolution the lead early and Bradley Wright-Phillips equalized midway through the first half.

New York won both previous matches against New England this season. —

MLS playoffs

Conference finals

West

Leg 1 • Los Angeles 1, Seattle 0

Leg 1 • Sunday Nov. 30, 7 p.m. MST

East

Leg 1 • New England 2, New York 1

Leg 2 • Saturday, 1 p.m. MST

MLS Cup • Sunday, Dec. 7, 1 p.m. MST