Tag: MLS Cup Playoffs

      Real Salt Lake captures MLS Cup, proves penalty shootouts aren’t that cool

      November 23, 2009 /

      Real Salt Lake

      Under its current system, fans got a pretty great MLS Cup last night. Although the league would have undoubtedly benefited from a Galaxy victory, the game will be talked about favorably by those who watched it. (Legitimate Galaxy fans will concede that this was an exciting final.)

      While the Galaxy dominated the first half and notched a goal courtesy of Mike McGee, Real Salt Lake turned it on in the second, pounding shot after shot at the Galaxy’s backup goalkeeper Josh Saunders. With David Beckham playing on a bone-bruised ankle, the Galaxy’s offense had trouble putting the pressure on Real and containing their lead. In the 64th minute, the ball bounced off multiple players in the Galaxy’s box until Real forward Robbie Findley knocked it into the net.

      Real would continue to control the remainder of regulation play and then the two 15-minute intervals of extra time. Still, the Galaxy defense somehow prevented a deciding goal. Saunders, who saw hardly any action this season over the team’s exceptional starter Donovan Ricketts, was surprisingly confident between the posts. A mid-game addition for the injured Ricketts, Saunders was up to the task.

      The game entering shootouts, I realized I wanted to turn off the TV. After 120 minutes of play, a team’s entire season was about to be decided in about five minutes. Now, I wasn’t rooting for either club. I just wanted an outcome that was best for the league — suffice to say, that wasn’t Real winning. If that Galaxy won, media outlets across the globe would discuss David Beckham’s success in three professional leagues. His supporters and haters would have no choice but to include the MLS in their rants. Instead, with a Real championship, nobody would care outside of Utah.

      But the Galaxy didn’t win. Lined up for the penalty kicks, most of their team looked like they wanted to go home and sleep. They were understandably exhausted, but they were also unfocused mentally. The team’s top scorers, Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle, both missed their shots. Tied at 4-4, Real Salt Lake midfielder Robbie Russell sent in the final goal past Saunders. Considering Real’s strange season, it’s fitting that Russell — a midfielder who hadn’t scored during the regular season or playoffs — ended the Galaxy’s chances. Real squirmed into the playoffs with a losing record of 11-12-7. As the eighth seed, they faced an uphill battle, but they managed to upset the Columbus Crew and the Chicago Fire. Nobody expected their luck to follow them into the final against the powerful Galaxy.

      Shootouts. Stupid shootouts.

      Of course, I don’t blame Real Salt Lake in the slightest — they outplayed the Galaxy for most of the game. I just don’t respect the outcome. I hate the format. It’s like having the NBA Finals decided by free throws.

      Soccer

      Galaxy power through Dynamo in overtime, advance to MLS Cup

      November 14, 2009 /

      Galaxy

      I can’t remember the last time a major sporting event experienced a power outage. Yeah, yeah, laugh all you want — I do think Major League Soccer games are important. If you’ve seen any this year’s MLS Cup Playoffs, you’d have noticed the lively stadiums, packed with zealous fans pounding drums and swaying back and forth while chanting for their team. The players are likely aware that few, relatively, are watching (the games are buried on ESPN2 and the Fox Soccer Channel in inconvenient time slots), but that isn’t stopping them from going at each other’s throats as if it’s the last game they will ever play. Although the competition has been thrilling, I have to admit that I can’t wait till the center referee blows the final whistle. That’s when the losing team completely cracks and swarms their opposition with jersey-pulling and vehement threats. It’s highly entertaining, mostly because these players know they won’t get fined, so they come desperately close to cracking skulls.

      Take it from me — the games are fun to watch. Given the time of year, you don’t have many options to placate your sportive appetite. You’ve got your college football on Saturdays, NFL on Sundays, NBA throughout the week, and NHL if you’re lucky. OK, so there are plenty of distractions, but that doesn’t mean the MLS Cup Playoffs aren’t worth you time.

      Oh, yes — the blackouts. Occurring at the 19th and 51st minutes, the power failures accumulated to over a half hour of delay. It’s a shame, because both instances killed the game’s momentum. The Dynamo outplayed the Galaxy in the first half, keeping the pressure on LA goalie Donovan Ricketts. The Dynamo defense also managed to contain the league’s leading scorer, Landon Donovan, who didn’t have any shots on goal in this Western Conference final.

      With the game still scoreless at the beginning of the second half, both teams increased the tempo and focused on making runs down the field. Unfortunately, another power outage six minutes in prevented either squad from finding a groove. Neither could rebound from the unwanted interval, and the game subsequently suffered from sloppy and fatigued play.

      Headed into overtime, the Home Team Depot Center suddenly awoke and attempted to breathe life into the Galaxy, a once hopeless franchise that finished tied for last place in 2008. In the game’s 103rd minute, David Beckham sent a perfectly-placed ball inside the Dyanmo box. Omar Gonazlez put a head on it, but it was blocked by Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson. Gregg Berhalter, however, was there to pick the trash, seamlessly knocking the ball into the net and giving the Galaxy the lead.

      From then on, the Dynamo would fail to regain composure. Shortly after Berhalter’s goal, Houston defender Bobby Boswell brainlessly tripped the Galaxy’s Alan Gordon inside the Dyanmo box. Landon Donovan, booming with confidence, drove the penalty kick past Dyanmo goalie Pat Ostand. After 120 minutes of play, the Galaxy were the Western Conference Champions.

      The Galaxy will now wait on the winner of tonight’s Eastern Conference final between the Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake, which you can catch at 8 PM ET if you get the Fox Soccer Channel.

      The MLS Cup will take place on Sunday, November 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle.

      Soccer

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