Carson, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Galaxy extended the title match of the Pan-Pacific Championship but couldn't come away with the championship trophy on Saturday.
Suwon Samsung Bluewings goalkeeper Park Ho-Jin blocked a Kyle Patterson penalty kick to help the Korean club clinch the tournament title by beating the Galaxy 4-2 in a penalty shootout, after a 1-1 draw in regulation at The Home Depot Center.
Patterson's miss was the Galaxy's second failed conversion in the shootout. Edson Buddle sent the home team's first attempt flying over the crossbar.
Eduardo De Oliveira, Yang Sang-Min, Lee Gil-Hoon and Choi Sung-Hwan converted penalties for the Bluewings while Chris Klein and Mike Magee converted for the Galaxy.
It was Magee who sent the match into a shootout when it appeared the Galaxy were headed to another defeat. But coach Bruce Arena's squad caught a break when a penalty was called against the Bluewings in the 88th minute.
Suwon defender Jorge Luiz Alves Justino was called for fouling Edson Buddle in the penalty box. Mike Magee converted the penalty, sending it to the lower-left corner and past Suwon goalkeeper Park Ho-Jin.
The Galaxy trailed for 51 minutes until defender Sean Franklin headed in an own goal to give the Bluewings a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute.
Franklin appeared to have tried to clear a long pass intended for Suwong midfielder Choi Sung-Hyeon. Franklin got a piece of the floating pass with the top of his head but sent it over the head of Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders into his own net. Saunders was standing about 15-yards away from his goal when the ball sailed over him.
Franklin stared into the distance, standing with his hands at his waist. Teammate and rookie Omar Gonzalez rubbed Franklin's head, trying to comfort the Galaxy's No. 1 pick in the 2008 MLS Superdraft.
Franklin's mistake perhaps came at a bad time. The Galaxy's revamped defense seemed to be meshing together with veteran and team captain Eddie Lewis. Arena made it a priority to strengthen his backline by adding Tony Sanneh, A.J. De la Garza and Gonzalez, the club's top pick in the 2009 Superdraft, to this year's roster.
Lewis left the game with a left hamstring injury in the 31st minute. He was subbed by De la Garza.
The Galaxy's backline quietly had a solid outing in Wednesday's 2-0 win against Japanese League champion Oita Trinita, who beat China's Shandang Luneng in the early cap of the doubleheader.
It was a slightly different story against Suwong. The Galaxy had the clearest chances at goal in the first half, but it was Bluewings who took more shots. The Korean club out shot Los Angeles eight to three in the first half.
Saunders raked in four saves, including a pair on clear scoring opportunities for Suwong.
The first came in the 28th minute when Bluewings forward Seo Dong-Hyeon sent a soft shot straight into the hands of Saunders. Dong-Hyeon took a centered pass near the mouth of the goal but couldn't put enough on his shot to beat Saunders.
Saunders also stopped a dangerous Bluewings shot in the 24th minute. Suwong captain Dong-Hyeon sent a blast from near the penalty spot straight into Saunders chest.
Saunders made another important save 15 minutes into the second half. He slapped away a bouncing loose ball from De Oliveira, who sneaked past defenders into the penalty area.
Arena opted to start Saunders instead of Josh Wicks, who started on the Pan Pacific opener against Trinita. Projected starter Donovan Ricketts sat out, resting a tight hamstring.
Arena also kept Buddle and midfielder Josh Tudela out of the starting 11, giving way for second-year man Ely Allen and midfielder Stefanu Miglioranzi the start. Buddle subbed in for Alan Gordon in the 68th minute.
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