As America celebrates the Thanksgiving holiday it seems appropriate that this week’s Extra Time be devoted to a review of the 16th MLS Cup Final between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Houston Dynamo.
The game was an entertaining one and the Galaxy deserved to win their third title, their first since 2005, although the 1-0 score line flattered the Dynamo who were comprehensively outplayed. They were fortunate that the Galaxy and Robbie Keane in particular were profligate in front of the goal. Landon Donovan’s decisive goal was worthy of winning any cup final and owed much to the collective ability of the Galaxy’s three designated players. Keane and David Beckham were involved in the buildup before feeding Donovan who adeptly finished the move past a helpless Tally Hall.
There are many things that can be leveled at Landon Donovan, but there can be no disputing the fact that he rises to the big occasion for both club and country. His winning goal for the USA against Algeria in last summer’s World Cup in South Africa is already the stuff of legend. His winning goal in the MLS Final adds to his impressive resume and there is still room for more accomplishments. All the talk in the aftermath of the game was about where his teammate Beckham will ply his trade next season; however, it will be interesting from an American perspective to see what Donovan decides to do. No one would begrudge him a move to Europe at this stage of his career.
The game was an entertaining one and the Galaxy deserved to win their third title, their first since 2005, although the 1-0 score line flattered the Dynamo who were comprehensively outplayed. They were fortunate that the Galaxy and Robbie Keane in particular were profligate in front of the goal. Landon Donovan’s decisive goal was worthy of winning any cup final and owed much to the collective ability of the Galaxy’s three designated players. Keane and David Beckham were involved in the buildup before feeding Donovan who adeptly finished the move past a helpless Tally Hall.
There are many things that can be leveled at Landon Donovan, but there can be no disputing the fact that he rises to the big occasion for both club and country. His winning goal for the USA against Algeria in last summer’s World Cup in South Africa is already the stuff of legend. His winning goal in the MLS Final adds to his impressive resume and there is still room for more accomplishments. All the talk in the aftermath of the game was about where his teammate Beckham will ply his trade next season; however, it will be interesting from an American perspective to see what Donovan decides to do. No one would begrudge him a move to Europe at this stage of his career.
Despite rumors indicating that Donovan and Beckham were not the best of friends off the field their embrace at the final whistle showed a mutual professional respect. If Beckham does not return to MLS in 2012 then the embrace with Donovan and his holding aloft the Phillip F. Anschutz trophy will be two of the iconic images of this season and the English superstar’s MLS and LA career.
The regular season was an exciting one with some excellent games, the development of players like Omar Gonzalez, the addition of talent like Robbie Keane and the opening of yet more soccer specific stadiums. The average game attendance for the league surpassed that of the NBA and NHL to provide much needed credibility with an unsupportive media. Too bad that then that the two best teams, LA and Seattle Sounders did not get the chance to meet in the final because of the vagaries of the MLS playoff format. Thankfully the powers that be have tweaked the schedule for next year and the top two teams have the possibility of facing each other in the final, as they should.
It may have taken him five years, but David Beckham will leave MLS a winner. His potential final game in a Galaxy shirt was well covered by the British media and was subject to the typical lazy soccer journalism. They would have you believe that Beckham has built MLS into what it has become today. Nonsense! MLS was on the road to being an established league long before Beckham joined the Galaxy. ESPN, Fox Soccer and the likes of the atmosphere at Seattle’s games to name but a few have helped established the league. Beckham has elevated the status of the league because he and his oxymoronic named wife are regular features in the tabloids and magazines. The Beckham brand has helped MLS, but MLS has helped brand Beckham in return.
The regular season was an exciting one with some excellent games, the development of players like Omar Gonzalez, the addition of talent like Robbie Keane and the opening of yet more soccer specific stadiums. The average game attendance for the league surpassed that of the NBA and NHL to provide much needed credibility with an unsupportive media. Too bad that then that the two best teams, LA and Seattle Sounders did not get the chance to meet in the final because of the vagaries of the MLS playoff format. Thankfully the powers that be have tweaked the schedule for next year and the top two teams have the possibility of facing each other in the final, as they should.
It may have taken him five years, but David Beckham will leave MLS a winner. His potential final game in a Galaxy shirt was well covered by the British media and was subject to the typical lazy soccer journalism. They would have you believe that Beckham has built MLS into what it has become today. Nonsense! MLS was on the road to being an established league long before Beckham joined the Galaxy. ESPN, Fox Soccer and the likes of the atmosphere at Seattle’s games to name but a few have helped established the league. Beckham has elevated the status of the league because he and his oxymoronic named wife are regular features in the tabloids and magazines. The Beckham brand has helped MLS, but MLS has helped brand Beckham in return.
The attendance of 30,281 as well as the final itself has come in for some undeserved criticism in the domestic and international media. The game was a sell out and while the number of spectators attending is nowhere near that of a Champions League Final or FA Cup Final it still represents a huge positive for the game in this country. By comparison, the 16th English FA Cup Final at Kennington Oval in 1886-87 was played in front of a sparse crowd of 15,500. Those hardy souls watched Aston Villa beat West Bromwich 2-0.
There were a few minor negatives in the final. The referee, Ricardo Salazar tried to let the game flow as much as possible, but he was very lenient to both Beckham and the Dynamo’s Andre Hainault. Both players were cautioned in the latter stages, but a case could be made that both should have received red for a couple of naughty tackles each. Whose decision was it to use a silver ball for the final? I know my eyesight is waning as I get older, but I had a hard time picking the ball out especially from distance.
I like watching MLS games and I think the league has improved immensely in recent years. It will never supplant Spurs or Celtic in my emotions, but that is an argument for another day. Too many ex-pat fans on the blogs, forums, and Sirius phone-ins are critical of MLS and don’t give the league its due credit. These fans compare MLS to Barcelona, AC Milan, Celtic and Manchester United which is unfair. They say the games are boring; lack quality and lack intensity; yet, these same fans will then watch Wigan play Aston Villa or Inverness play Aberdeen and find them entertaining. MLS should be judged on its own merits and not compared to the EPL, La Liga or Serie A.
There were a few minor negatives in the final. The referee, Ricardo Salazar tried to let the game flow as much as possible, but he was very lenient to both Beckham and the Dynamo’s Andre Hainault. Both players were cautioned in the latter stages, but a case could be made that both should have received red for a couple of naughty tackles each. Whose decision was it to use a silver ball for the final? I know my eyesight is waning as I get older, but I had a hard time picking the ball out especially from distance.
I like watching MLS games and I think the league has improved immensely in recent years. It will never supplant Spurs or Celtic in my emotions, but that is an argument for another day. Too many ex-pat fans on the blogs, forums, and Sirius phone-ins are critical of MLS and don’t give the league its due credit. These fans compare MLS to Barcelona, AC Milan, Celtic and Manchester United which is unfair. They say the games are boring; lack quality and lack intensity; yet, these same fans will then watch Wigan play Aston Villa or Inverness play Aberdeen and find them entertaining. MLS should be judged on its own merits and not compared to the EPL, La Liga or Serie A.
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