The Los Angeles Galaxy and Herediano played a scoreless draw in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal on Thursday night.
Herediano's Ismael Gomez drew a penalty kick in the 87th minute, but knocked it off the crossbar. Gomez tumbled to the turf after minimal contact from Galaxy defender Sean Franklin, leading to the whistle.
The second half of the home-and-home series is Wednesday night in Carson, Calif., with the winner facing Mexico's Monterrey or Xelaju of Guatemala. Monterrey won 3-1 in the first leg on Wednesday.
Yedrick Ruiz of Herediano and Mike Magee of Los Angeles also hit the crossbar. Ruiz missed in the 43rd minute, and Magee nearly put the Galaxy in front nine minutes later.
''We know that would have been extremely unjust had they won that game, 1-0,'' Galaxy forward Mike Magee said. ''They definitely had a good amount of possession, but if they had won that game, it would have been disappointing.''
''If you want to put a pencil to paper, you have to win the game,'' Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. ''I don't mind going home having to win the game. That's the way it's supposed to be.''
