Kofi Opare scores in 68th minute and Galaxy shut out Impact 1-0

CARSON, Calif. – Kofi Opare scored his first career goal midway through the second half, and the Los Angeles Galaxy pulled out a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Impact on Wednesday night.

Opare, a rookie defender, spun and chipped the ball into the net from a scramble in the Montreal box following a corner kick in the 68th minute.

The Galaxy (15-11-6) climbed to third place in the Western Conference, just two points off the lead with two games to play.

The two-time defending MLS Cup champions can clinch a playoff berth with a win or tie Sunday against San Jose.

Montreal (13-12-7), which is fourth in the East, suffered its third successive 1-0 defeat and had its winless streak hit six games.

Los Angeles, playing without injured forward Landon Donovan and defender Omar Gonzalez, was in command throughout and could have added to its advantage.

Marcelo Sarvas struck the crossbar in the 80th minute, and Robbie Keane — a 60th-minute substitute a day after playing in a World Cup qualifier for Ireland in Dublin — chipped off the crossbar in the 85th.