Toronto FC fell for the second straight time, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Galaxy in Los Angeles Saturday night.

Former Toronto forward Edson Buddle scored in the 78th minute for Los Angeles to help keep the Galaxy's playoff hopes alive.

The Galaxy's Landon Donovan celebrates after scoring against Toronto FC Saturday.
(Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

The Galaxy, who sport a 9-13-6 record, are trying to salvage what appeared to be a lost season less than a month ago when they played to a 2-2 with last-place Real Salt Lake on Sept. 19.

Since that draw, Los Angeles has won five consecutive games to move four points back of the Chicago Fire and Kansas City Wizards, the teams holding the two final playoff spots in Major League Soccer.

Los Angeles has a game in hand on both teams. The Galaxy host the New York Red Bulls on Thursday before closing out the regular season at Chicago on Oct. 21. The Galaxy only had three wins in the first five months of the season, but can qualify for the playoffs by winning its final two matches.

Toronto, which is already eliminated from playoff contention, lost to the Colorado Rapids last Saturday. The expansion franchise is 1-9-4 since a 2-1 win at Salt Lake on July 4. Its lone win came in a 2-1 victory over New York at home on Oct. 4.

TFC's woeful stretch included a league-record 824 consecutive minutes without a goal.

After a tame first half, the Galaxy opened the scoring in the 56th minute when Landon Donovan scored from the penalty spot after Toronto defender Marco Reda earned a red card.

Playing with only 10 men, Toronto fought back and tied the score 12 minutes later. Canadian Chris Pozniak fed a beautiful pass to Collin Samuel, and the Trinidadian star fought off a Los Angeles defender before blasting the ball into the net.

The goal was Samuel's second of the season and first since July 4.

It looked as though the game was destined to end in a draw but Buddle, who Toronto traded to Los Angeles in June, scored with 12 minutes left in regulation on a setup from Donovan to lift the Galaxy to the victory. 

Injured English star David Beckham did not play for Los Angeles.

Toronto finishes the regular season next Saturday at home against the New England Revolution (CBC, 12:30 p.m. ET).