Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake faced Cruz Azul in the CONCACAF Champions League on a very rainy day in Estadio Azul in Mexico. The referee was Oscar Moncada and Cruz Azul needed a victory to at least depart from the competition with dignity.

Cruz Azul was true to form when winning one game then losing another game. The worst part is losing in its home stadium to Real Salt Lake. It was able to score one goal by Javier Antonio Orozco Penuelas within four minutes of the game.

Cruz Azul started to play mediocre at best and unable to play coherently in the rain. The end result were mistakes that lead to a yellow card for Maximiliano Biancuchi and Horacio Cervantes.

Real Salt Lake made its presence felt with its dominance of the game and being able to play even with heavy rain. The team was disciplined and consistent as well as organized in defense and offense.

The team was all over Estadio Azul, with Alvaro Saborio scoring the first goal on the basis of a penalty within 22 minutes.

Alvaro Saborio remained on the defensive and was able to pass the ball to his fellow teammates. He was able to place the ball in the center and score another goal for Real Salt Lake at 42 minutes.

Real Salt Lake was dominant even though Nelson Gonzalez received a yellow card within 26 minutes. The second half continued like the first half, with both teams initiating substitutions.

Cruz Azul replaced Cesar Villaluz with Christian Jimenez while Real Salt Lake replaced Nelson Gonzalez with Ned Grabavoy. Regardless, Fausto Pinto of Cruz Azul committed a foul against Ned Grabavoy.

The result was a free kick, which resulted in a goal by Fabian Espinola in 63 minutes. Real Salt Lake then replaced Mr. Espinola with Robbie Findley. While Real Salt Lake was struggling to maintain its lead, Cruz Azul was able to wake up from its lethargy to play defensive and offensive football/soccer.

The end result was a second goal by Javier Antonio Orozco Penuelas assisted by Christian Gimenez for Cruz Azul within 75 minutes. Cruz Azul then substituted Gonzalo Pineda with Rogelio Chavez Martinez while the crowd was actively supporting their team.

Cruz Azul was playing more like a team and its presence was being felt in the last few minutes of this important game. Real Salt Lake felt the brunt of Cruz Azul when Robbie Findley received a yellow card.

The team from Estadio Azul made a comeback when Javier Antonio Orozco Penuelas scored two goals toward the end of the game. He scored his third goal in 87 minutes assisted by Alejandro Vela.

The fourth goal in 89 minutes by Orozco Penuelas was assisted by Rogelio Chavez Martinez and was the result of a foul by Ned Grabavoy upon Fausto Pinto in a sudden inverse change between the two players.

It appeared that we were witnessing the greatest comeback in the CONCACAF Champions League with Christian Gimenez scoring another goal for Cruz Azul in the 90th minute. The crowd was going wild with Cruz Azul.

Will Johnson was able to score a goal as a parting shot for Real Salt Lake at the last minute, but it did not save the team. The game was one of the most hotly contested and electrifying contests of the CONCACAF Champions League.

The referee was also one of the few who was objective compared to the one that was at the Columbus Crew vs Santos game.

Cruz Azul 5-4 Real Salt Lake

Estadio Azul Mexico

Most Valued Player: Javier Antonio Orozco Penuelas.

T-180: Rio Tinto Stadium is a wonderful venue to play and watch football. Not only can it host soccer games, but rugby union contests as well. For example, the youth side of my rugby team, Belmont Shore, earned the ignominious honor of finishing with a lead medal—fourth place—at the national tournament down there.
And yes, it does do high school gridiron contests as well, just like the Home Depot Center with their CIF State Championship games.

With a 130 x 90 Kentucky Bluegrass surface, Rio Tinto Stadium was constructed from 2006 through 2008. This stadium seats 20,000 for football matches and 25,000 for concerts (including an upcoming gig by Paul McCartney).

Stadium amenities include 32 luxury suites, a 2,000-square foot Stadium Club, 1,000 premium club seats, five locker rooms, a 60-foot Video Board, and ribbon LED boards stretching 200 feet long on both the east and west fascia.

T-170: The Rio Tinto Group is a diversified, British-Australian, multinational mining and resources group with headquarters in London and Melbourne.

The company was founded in 1873, when a multinational consortium of investors purchased a mine complex on the Rio Tinto river, in Huelva, Spain from the Spanish government. Since then, the company has grown through a long series of mergers and acquisitions to place itself among the world leaders in the production of many commodities, including aluminium, iron ore, copper, uranium, coal, and diamonds.

Rio Tinto Group is a dual-listed company traded on both the London Stock Exchange where it is a component of the FTSE 100 Index and the Australian Securities Exchange where it is a component of the S&P/ASX 200 index.

And without turning into too much of either a stadium tour guide or a company spokesperson here, this is a nice segue into tonight's contest between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake.

T-160: Bruce Arena's Galaxy are rolling. They finished the first three months of the 2010 Major League Soccer season unbeaten and have started the month of June on the right track with a 4-1 rout of the Houston Dynamo.

Currently, Los Angeles are 10-0-2 (32 points).

T-150: As for Jason Kreis's Real Salt Lake, they are sitting fourth on the overall league table and second in the MLS Western Conference with a 6-3-2 record (20 points).

T-140: Line-ups.

LOS ANGELES GALAXY
Manager: Bruce Arena
Formation: 4-4-2 Diamond
Colors: Blue tops, blue shorts, blue socks

1 Donovan Ricketts

28 Sean Franklin ---- 4 Omar Gonzalez ---- 16 Greg Berhalter (C) ---- 2 Todd Dunivant

11 Chris Birchall

26 Michael Stephens ---- 88 Alex Cazumba

19 Juninho

9 Jovan Kirovski ---- 17 Tristan Bowen

Substitutes:

12 Josh Saunders GK
20 A.J. De La Garza DEF
6 Eddie Lewis MID
7 Chris Klein MID
84 Clint Mathis MID
21 Alan Gordon FWD
27 Bryan Jordan FWD

REAL SALT LAKE
Manager: Jason Kreis
Formation: 4-4-2 Diamond
Colors: Burgundy tops with blue sleeves and yellow collars, burgundy shorts, burgundy socks

18 Nick Rimando

3 Robbie Russell ---- 4 Jamison Olave ---- 6 Nat Borchers ---- 2 Tony Beltran

77 Andy Williams

8 Will Johnson ---- 20 Ned Grabavoy

11 Javier Morales

7 Fabian Espindola ---- 16 Alvaro Saborio

Substitutes:

24 Kyle Reynish GK
28 Chris Schuler DEF
30 Rauwshan McKenzie DEF
26 Collen Warner MID
21 Luis Gil MID
12 Jean Alexandre MID
19 Pablo Campos FWD

T-130: Other midweek matches include the Chicago Fire vs. the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, the Kansas City Wizards vs. the Philadelphia Union on Thursday and also on Thursday, Seattle Sounders FC hosts D.C. United.

T-120: Two hours to go before kickoff here at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake is reeling off a scoreless draw at RFK Stadium.

No Kyle Beckerman in the line-up will make things pretty interesting.

T-110: Edvin Jurisevic is our match official tonight. Linesmen are Frank Anderson and Eric Proctor. Fourth official today is Tyler Ploeger.

T-100: I think I contracted some type of stomach virus while posting this today, so I will be feeling a little woozy while posting. Do forgive me if this is the case.

T-90: This will be a big week in sports. I think if the Galaxy get a result against RSL that they like, the Lakers could be on their way to a successful defense. (And if not, then it's living proof the Zen Master may have lost his mojo in mid-June.)

FIRST HALF START: 6:08 P.M. PT

1' - And we're off. Early knock on Alex Cazumba by Fabian Espindola

4' - Tristan Bowen with a warning blast. That goes high.

5' - Sean Franklin with a knock on Javier Morales. Some physical play early.

6' - I have had to put up with a lousy wireless connection at DeVry University. Yessir, I am balancing this play by play with this piece of garbage we call "class lectures."

10' - Action is going nonstop right now.

12' - Offsides on Alvaro Saborio. Now we have a slight weather delay due to lightning. Is it raining down there in Utah!? Damn Great Salt Lake.

PLAY SUSPENDED AT 6:20 P.M. PT

6:30 p.m. - First time I posted this one. Not very often I get to post miscellany in the middle of a weather delay, but it seems like the football gods are a bit angry.

6:45 p.m. - So it's 6:45 p.m. Pacific Standard Time . . . and it's still delayed due to lightning. I'm getting shot after shot of impatient supporters, waiting for action to resume due to Mother Nature's intervention.

Whatever the case, the fans will be coming home a little later than usual due to Mother Nature's lightning bolts.

6:48 p.m. - Ahhh, here they come. Let us continue the proceedings here, shall we?

PLAY RESUMES AT 6:55 P.M. PT

13' - And here we go again! La Barra Real, bangingp those drums on Big Wednesday. In the other match today, Chicago and Colorado are tied 1-1. Goal kick Donovan Ricketts. The Big Cat From Montego Bay begins the beguine.

14' - Great speed from Nat Borchers. He wants to put the G's in a fix, the No. 6. Nick Rimando restarts the attack for Real Salt Lake.

15' - Wide shot. Juninho almost gave up that shot by Will Johnson. Just what the heck was he doing?

16' - This is Tristan Bowen. Sean Franklin with the foul. Here comes RSL.

17' - The pace for this match is now accelerating.

18' - Defensive backline will have to reset for Los Angeles.

19' - Offsides, Todd Dunivant. So much for that one.

20' - Yellow card 19 Juninho. Los Angeles Galaxy. He got the ball, but he also got the man as well. A well-deserved yellow.

21' - Too long for Fabian Espindola. Throw in for the Galaxy. This is Sean Franklin. Out, and here's another one for the No. 28. RSL kicks it out again. Darn, three straight for Franklin? He's getting his repetitions.

22' - LA will need to be cautious with the possession. Nick Rimando boots it deep for the followers of Jason Kreis with a goal kick.

23' - Saborio wants to increase the pace just a tad. Every World Cup flag is out in full force today. One for each of the 32 countries participating in the big show. Dunivant with a foul on Saborio.

24' - Goal kick. Real Salt Lake was offsides. No goal. Whew, that was a big bullet dodged early by Los Angeles.

25' - Here's a corner for RSL. Nothing doing.

28' - Will be off for a little bit due to laptop updates. (Damn Patch Tuesday . . . )

31' - Alex Cazumba is being marked like the Dickens by Morales.

32' - High one-timer by Chris Birchall.

33' - A corner by Morales is denied by the Galaxy defense. Rimando with the save on Bowen.

37' - Johnson with another shot that goes wide.

38' - Another corner for Real Salt Lake. Doesn't materialize.

39' - Bowen is fouled for the first time today.

40' - A shot for Fabian Espindola deflected. Another shot from Espindola. That too is deflected. Corner now for RSL. They are drawing people forward, the home side. Denied.

41' - Once again, this is the tenacious defending we have come to expect from the Los Angeles Galaxy. This is why they have given up the least goals so far this season.

42' - Here's Ned Grabavoy. Saved by Ricketts. Wonderful save. Here is Robbie Russell. Another spectacular save for the Big Cat from Montego Bay.

43' - Chicago now leads 2-1. Corner by Javier Morales.

45' - Gregg Berhalter with a knock on Morales.

What an exciting first half, ladies and gentlemen on The View and on Bleacher Report. A lightning delay could not prevent an entertaining half of football from materializing. We are scoreless at the break.

HALFTIME

Los Angeles Galaxy 0

Real Salt Lake 0


SECOND HALF START: 7:45 P.M. PT

46' - The second half is underway. Let's see if we will get a goal scored here this period. Can Los Angeles turn the possession war on its head and make something out of this?

47' - Here's Real Salt Lake with the possession. Robbie Russell leading the charge. Blatant push on Andy Williams by Juninho. Easy call for Edvin Jurisevic.

48' - Goal kick for Ricketts. Oooh, Rimando had to get that one off.

49' - Some more great defending. Plenty of time for them to get the go-ahead.

50' - Bad pass. Throw-in for RSL.

51' - 51 minutes into the contest, and it's still scoreless. Saborio with the foul.

52' - Berhalter, asking for a foul. He gets it.

54' - Offsides on Jovan Kirovski.

55' - A little stamping shenanigans here? But that's two opportunities for LA that went south due to playing too direct.

56' - Andy Williams with the foul on Chris Birchall.

57' - Goal kick for Rimando.

58' - Alex Cazumba, meet the altitude. Foul on Birchall.

59' - Real Salt Lake substitution. IN 17 Chris Wingert. OUT 2 Tony Beltran.

60' - Corner for the Galaxy is deflected. They are forcing the issue now, the G's.

61' - Long ball too strong for Espindola, and he is in pain. A little stretch will do the trick.

63' - Substitution Real Salt Lake. IN 19 Pablo Campos. OUT 7 Fabian Espindola. Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy. IN 84 CLint Mathis. OUT 9 Joban Kirovski.

64' - Yellow Card 77 Andy Williams. Real Salt Lake. Questionable yellow card, fouling Clint Mathis from behind. Real Salt Lake looks to pull within nine points of the league leaders. They are still locked in a scoreless draw.

65' - Colorado's Conor Casey with a 91st minute equalizer makes it 2-2 the final for the Rapids against the Chicago Fire.

66' - Juninho with an ambitious one-time shot. He needs to work on his technique from that angle, and learn to cope with the altitude.

67' - Alex Cazumba tries to argue his case, but he fouled Andy Williams. Temper, temper, young man.

68' - Set piece time on the way for Real Salt Lake. Off the Galaxy wall for a corner kick.

69' - There's some pushing and shoving on both sides. Gregg Berhalter and Jamison Olave breaking out the handbags.

70' - Now Cazumba is disgusted, as he should. It's another corner. Real Salt Lake with contact in the box forces a goal kick by Ricketts.

71' - The altitude here is doing a job on the players today. The passing has been shabby, and they had to rely on the best judgment of the officials, too.

72' - Dangerous chance for Pablo Campos. He never got a good spot on that header. Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy. IN 21 Alan Gordon. OUT 17 Tristan Bowen. Welcome back, Alan.

73' - Short passes with work. I do not understand why Juninho is drying to play direct football here.

74' - Jason Kreis is beside himself. Is this some sort of conspiracy, he thinks? To give the Galaxy at least one point?

75' - Juninho doesn't seem to be getting the message: PLAY. IT. SHORT. This is Alex Cazumba.

76' - Gordon with the rough challenge. Rimando will be wise to ask the team to slow the pace down.

77' - And Alan Gordon is brought down hard. No foul. He's not too happy. It's called "consistency," Mr. Gordon.

78' - The frustration mounts. Saborio with the tackle. Substitution Real Salt Lake. IN 26 Collen Warner. OUT 77 Andy Williams. Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy. IN 6 Eddie Lewis. OUT 88 Alex Cazumba.

80' - GOAL! Real Salt Lake. 11 Javier Morales. No one was guarding Morales on the wing. That is a rare blown assignment by the Galaxy, and they are down 1-0. Yellow card 11 Javier Morales. Real Salt Lake. Can't take your shirt off like that, Javier, in spite of the exuberance.

82' - The Galaxy will be on their heels the rest of this game.

83' - Scenario time. Corner for the Galaxy. It looked to be offsides on the Morales goal. Unbelievable.

84' - Yellow card 4 Omar Gonzalez. Los Angeles Galaxy. He will be suspended for the next match against Toronto FC. As if things hadn't been bad enough.

85' - Real Salt Lake will be wise to just sit on this lead for the rest of the game.

87' - Ricketts is completely disgusted with the defense. Actually, the team in particular.

88' - The Galaxy continue to play with a sense of urgency.

89' - The crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium are in sheer anticipation.

90' - Three minutes of stoppage time will be given.

92' - Another great save from Nick Rimando. He has been magnificent this game.

93' - That's a wrap.

FINAL:
LOS ANGELES GALAXY 0
REAL SALT LAKE 1

Stay tuned for my take on this contest on Bleacher Report and the View from Victoria Street. Beware, it's not going to be a pretty one . . .

Last year many people scorned Real Salt Lake. The club finished the regular season with a losing record of 11-12-7, yet still made the playoffs and went on to win the MLS Cup.

Many outsiders felt that this was an aberration and an embarrassment to professional sports. They chastised the MLS playoff format for allowing too many teams in.

Head coach Jason Kreis believed in his team the whole way and got the job done, regardless of how they finished the regular season. In 2010 Salt Lake returns the majority off their championship-winning core and will be out to prove that they are a talented team, not a fluke.

Real Salt Lake is a balanced team, efficient on both offense and defense.

The defense is led by goalkeeper Nick Rimando.

Rimando enjoyed what was arguably his best season in his 10-year MLS career. He posted a 1.14 goals against average, his lowest total since 2005. Rimando shined in the playoffs being the star in the team’s two penalty shootout wins, including in the MLS Cup championship that earned him MVP honors.

His entire starting defense—Chris Wingert, Nat Borchers, Jamison Olave, and Robbie Russell—returns and the group's chemistry should be a huge advantage.

U.S. international Kyle Beckerman will stabilize the midfield. He is an aggressive and tenacious defender and will continue to be a great leader for the team.

Javier Morales will handle the attacking portion of the midfield. After a 2008 season where he scored six goals and registered 15 assists, the Argentine had a down year in terms of production, putting forth totals of only one goal and five assists.

However, he played a part in all three of the team’s goals in the playoffs, scoring one and assisting two. The 2009 All-Star will look to improve upon his statistics and has started off the 2010 campaign with a bang scoring two goals and assisting one in the team’s 3-0 in the first game against San Jose.

Up top, Robbie Findley is one of the top forwards in the league.

He was tied for third last season in goals, 12, and added four assists. He has good speed and does a good job of getting behind the defense and getting in position to take high quality scoring chances. He also is still a candidate to make the US National Team roster that will take part in this summer’s World Cup.

He loses strike partner Yura Movsisyan, who left for Europe, but the team found a very talented replacement in Costa Rican International Alvaro Saborio.

A member of Costa Rica’s 2006 World Cup squad, Saborio has made 55 appearances with the Ticos and scored 22 goals, including one 79 seconds into a 2009 World Cup Qualifying match against the United States.

Salt Lake also brought in two talented rookies.

The team acquired heralded 17-year-old prospect Luis Gil, who has dazzled in youth international tournaments at midfield. The team may be slow to bring him on, but he is an exciting prospect for their future.

Collen Warner is the other rookie, drafted in the first round by the team. He was a top scorer and playmaker for four years at the University of Portland and could play a big role as a substitute for Salt Lake.

What the team needs to improve on is winning away matches. The team was almost unstoppable at home, going 9-1-5 with a goal differential of +23. In matches outside of Rio Tinto Stadium, however, the team was 2-11-2 with a -15-goal differential.

Somehow they were able to survive on the road during the playoffs, but they cannot expect to be taken serious as contenders without performing better on the road.

Real Salt Lake started off their defense of the MLS Cup strongly, drubbing San Jose 3-0 in the season opener, but the target is on their back and challenges await them.

Even after winning it all in 2009, the club is still not a conventional pick to repeat. However, they are a very talented and balanced squad with good leadership and chemistry, and if they can learn how to be more consistent than they will be right in the thick of things come playoff time.

Despite my lack of knowledge as it relates to soccer strategy there is something that I have seen that I think translates to every sport.

Winning a championship gives you confidence, and experience that raise your game to a whole new level.

Case in point: Real Salt Lake.

I realize I am a little biased having spent most of my life in Salt Lake, but hear me out.

Real was not exactly a powerhouse last season. They finished the regular season 11-12-7. For those of you without math degrees that is below .500. They lost more games than they won. They were worse than average.

I have long hated the idea of allowing a team into the playoffs that doesn’t even have a .500 record. Just give the No. 1 seed a bye or something, but if you can’t break even you don’t deserve a shot at the title. But, the rules are what they are, and Real made the playoffs as the No. 8 seed.

On a side note I am still confused how a Western Conference team can make the playoffs on the Eastern Conference side of the bracket, but I’ll just run with it.

We all know how the playoffs ended with Real upsetting the LA Galaxy for their first MLS Cup. It was the prime example of a team getting hot at just the right time.

Despite having a road record during the season of only 2-11-2, Real went into the house of the defending champs and put up three goals to win on aggregate 3-2.

They followed that up with another road win at Chicago winning on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie in regulation.

They capped off their run by upsetting the Galaxy again on penalty kicks in what was a very exciting game. It was an unlikely run that resulted in a hard fought victory.

So what does that run have to do with this year? Maybe nothing, as there are numerous teams in every sport that fall off the map after winning a championship. The Steelers come to mind from this last season.

No matter how much success you have had in the past you have to come out and work hard if you want to keep winning, and that is exactly what Real appears to have done in the offseason.

I realize that it is only one game, and that San Jose isn’t exactly the cream of the crop having finished with the second worst record in MLS last season behind New York, but winning on the road in a season opener in any sport can be challenging.

Real showed the kind of form that will be necessary if they intend to have any chance of defending their title.

Apparently they lived up to a challenge issued them by their coach as well.

“This happens to be a very difficult team to play against,” said head coach Jason Kreis, “ and one of our biggest goals tonight was to get a shutout, so we did that. We answered the questions that I posed to the players—they answered them.”

At the beginning of the season there are always questions to be answered that can only be discovered on the field. Kreis expected a certain level of execution from his players, and they delivered completely getting the shutout and putting up three goals of their own.

They played with a confidence that I can only attribute to one event.

Winning the championship.

They defied the odds and overcame every obstacle that was thrown at them. They have tasted how sweet victory at the highest level of their league can be, and apparently they want more of it.

It is often stated that success breeds success, just look at the Yankees. I think Real Salt Lake took the first step tonight in showing that that phrase can be true for them too.

Soccer fever is starting to build with the World Cup drawing ever closer, and I am so excited to have my team start off their season on the right foot.

The beautiful game is back in action in America.

Major League Soccer released its 2010 schedule Wednesday, pitting each of its 16 teams against each other twice between March and October.

Besides the expansion Philadelphia Union, the schedule that perhaps garners the most attention is that of defending MLS Cup Champions Real Salt Lake.

Here are a handful of the most exciting matchups that await RSL while defending the Cup.

March 27 at San Jose Earthquakes

RSL starts its Cup defense on the road. Will the Earthquakes be ready to unveil their No. 1 pick, Ike Opara? RSL will also travel to Houston before returning to Rio Tinto Stadium.

April 10 vs. Seattle Sounders

Of the 16 MLS teams, RSL will be the 15th to hold its home opener—ahead of only Toronto FC, which will host Philadelphia on April 15th.

April 17 at LA Galaxy

The Galaxy's first crack at revenge comes very early in the season when RSL visits The Home Depot Center. Will Becks be off loan by then?

May 8 vs. Philadelphia Union

RSL gets its first crack at the newest addition to MLS. Will the Union be as impressive as the Sounders were in their inaugural season last year?

July 8 at Chicago Fire

Like the Galaxy, the Fire will be eager to exact revenge on RSL after being beaten at home in the Eastern Conference Final. Will the Fire be the same team without Cuauhtemoc Blanco?

July 24 vs. Chivas USA

For the second consecutive year, RSL gets a home match for Pioneer Day. With a team like Chivas coming to town, expect fireworks during the game, not just afterwards.

Aug. 11 at Philadelphia Union

RSL will get its first look at MLS's newest venue: Union Field at Chester, which officially opens in June. Red Bull Arena, the other new MLS stadium, will host RSL on Oct. 9.

Sept. 9 at Seattle Sounders

RSL returns to the site of its Cup triumph. Where in the standings will they be by this point?

Oct. 23 at Colorado Rapids

Three of RSL's last four games are on the road, wrapping up with the second leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup. Will RSL need a win over the Rapids to clinch a playoff berth for the third straight year?

RSL's full schedule can be found here.

Often times, athletes who are in the final stage of their career resort to a hybrid of the skills that once dominated previous phases of their lives.  No more power fastball?  Mix in more control.  A loss of scrambling prowess?  It’s pocket quarterback time.

This combination of seasoned talent is applicable for Los Angeles Galaxy posterboy, David Beckham, who has rolled portions of his most coveted skill into a cornucopia of refined excellence.  Namely, his hair.

A look at Beckham’s current do – which was proudly displayed during the Galaxy’s MLS Cup matchup against Real Salt Lake on Sunday night…

Now, let’s take a gander at Beckham’s previous hair styles…

Some long locks…some baldness…some mohawkness…a little grease with a hint of mullet…and some highlighted tips.

Our friends over at The Sports Pickle summed up Beckham’s new mane quite well last night.

“I was wrong about Beckham no longer being a style icon. Sorry. His haircut is already huge in Alabama.”

Touche.

Although, we’re on to Beckham’s strategy. Mixing haircuts of yesteryear. This guy is so innovative.

---

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© JoeSportsFan.com, 2009. | Permalink | Tweet This

Citizens of Utah: please rise, stretch, and clap your hands. You are now blessed with a new set of sporting legends that have earned their place among the best in the Beehive State.

I issue this edict, this fatwa of football fanaticism: Real Salt Lake is officially The Real Deal.

Jason Kreis may as well have been Jesus Christ in Seattle on Sunday. His club defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy 5-4 on penalties to lift their first Philip Anschutz Trophy, and their first-ever Major League Soccer championship in the young team's history.

"It's nice to say we're the best team in the league. My honest opinion was that we deserved to win that game, so I'm glad that we did," said Kreis on the victory.

"I was walking down the fish market today and I must have seen a hundred Real Salt Lake fans and maybe five Galaxy fans. So I think that was an indication of how well supported we were tonight.

"I have a feeling that it's a really, really big thing for Utah."

Perhaps some supporters from Real Madrid, the club that has forged a partnership with Real Salt Lake and once had current Galaxy midfielder David Beckham on their team, are also smiling too.

Robbie Russell will go down as a hero among the Loyalists. His decisive spot kick gave the eighth seed the win.

"Playing in front of a crowd like that was great," said RUssell after the match. "It was a lot better than I expected."

Los Angeles got on the board first with a goal by Mike Magee in the 40th minute. On the transition, Landon Donovan delivered a cross that was slotted home to give the Galaxy a 1-0 going into halftime.

Real Salt Lake rebounded through another Robbie.

Robbie Findley made the Galaxy's defensive backline pay for missing their marker with the equalizer in the 64th minute.

Real Salt Lake's Javier Moreno was only able to last 22 minutes. He had to be subbed by Clint Mathis after suffering an LCL sprain by way of a David Beckham foul.

"Javier's been a very, very important player for us. In all of our good moments at Real Salt Lake he's been a central figure. He's our play maker for a reason," explained Kreis.

But Morales's injury didn't faze the underdogs from Utah, and Real Salt Lake's tenacity forced the game to go to penalties.

“Me and all the guys knew, if it came down to penalty kicks, we were confident, just going back to last week we handled business in Chicago,” Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando said. “But I really think we could have won this in regulation. We were that good in the second half.”

Rimando saved attempts by Jovan Kirovski and Edson Buddle in the shootout while witnessing Donovan's penalty sail high and over the crossbar.

Despite the setback, Bruce Arena was pleased by the turnaround the club made this season.

“Our players, our team, our organization had a great year,” Arena said after the game. “Can’t be disappointed. I think we did a great job in turning our team around.”

Los Angeles finished second overall on the regular season table (12-6-12, 48 points), while winning the Western Conference.

With the win, Real Salt Lake became the second eighth seed to win an MLS crown. The first to do so was the Galaxy in 2005.

Not only that, the championship is Utah's first professional title in any sport in four decades.

"We started with a dream and an idea of what it would look like over time," said Kreis. "We saw at certain times this season what we were capable of.

"We saw that we could be one of the best teams and now we are the best team in the league.”

"It's a Cinderella story," Real Salt Lake midfielder Ned Grabavoy said after the match. "“It really is."



Real Salt Lake (3-0-1) vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (2-1-1)
November 22, 2009—Qwest Field

Scoring Summary:
LA: Mike Magee 2 (Landon Donovan 1, David Beckham 1) 41
RSL: Robbie Findley 3 (unassisted) 64

Penalty-kick shootout:
LA: David Beckham (Goal)
RSL: Clint Mathis (Goal)
LA: Gregg Berhalter (Goal)
RSL: Robbie Findley (Goal)
LA: Jovan Kirovski (Saved)
RSL: Kyle Beckerman (Saved)
LA: Landon Donovan (High)
RSL: Ned Grabavoy (Goal)
LA: Mike Magee (Goal)
RSL: Andy Williams (Saved)
LA: Chris Klein (Goal)
RSL: Chris Wingert (Goal)
LA: Edson Buddle (Saved)
RSL: Robbie Russell (Goal)

Real Salt Lake: Nick Rimando, Robbie Russell, Nat Borchers, Jamison Olave, Chris Wingert, Andy Williams, Kyle Beckerman, Javier Morales (Clint Mathis 22), Will Johnson (Ned Grabavoy 46), Robbie Findley, Yura Movsisyan (Fabian Espindola 75).

Substitutes Not Used: Jean Alexandre, Tony Beltran, Pablo Campos, Chris Seitz


Los Angeles Galaxy: Donovan Ricketts (Josh Saunders 66), Sean Franklin, Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez (A.J. DeLaGarza 89), Todd Dunivant, David Beckham, Mike Magee, Chris Birchall (Chris Klein 79), Jovan Kirovski, Edson Buddle, Landon Donovan.

Substitutes Not Used: Alan Gordon, Dema Kovalenko, Eddie Lewis, Yohance Marshall
  
Los Angeles Galaxy    Real Salt Lake
Total Shots:    13    (Landon Donovan 3, Mike Magee 3)     19    (Robbie Findley 5)
Shots On Goal:    3    (3 tied with 1)     4    (Robbie Findley 2)
Fouls:    22    (David Beckham 4, Jovan Kirovski 4)     19    (Fabian Espindola 4)
Offsides:    5    (Edson Buddle 3)     8    (Robbie Findley 6)
Corner Kicks:     7    (David Beckham 7)     4    (Andy Williams 2)
Saves:    3    (Donovan Ricketts 2)     2    (Nick Rimando 2)

Misconduct Summary:
RSL: Will Johnson (caution; Tactical Foul) 14
LA: Chris Birchall (caution; Reckless Tackle) 39

Referee: Kevin Stott
Referee's Assistants: C.J. Morgante; Rob Fereday
Fourth Official: Baldomero Toledo
Time of game: 2:47
Attendance: 46,011
Weather: Cloudy, 45 degrees

T-120 minutes to kickoff: Ahhh, Seattle, Washington. The home of grunge rock, good health, great coffee, and a solid club that fell short of earning its stripes and home field advantage.

You gotta give credit to the Seattle Sounders Football Club for earning the U.S. Open Cup in their first season promoted from the USL to the MLS as an expansion team. And their supporters, led by the Emerald City Supporters, earn my respect for their unwavering support.

But the MLS Cup Playoffs are a different animal. While it's a battle of conference champions, it's essentially a battle of teams from the same conference winning respective silver chalices that are not the Philip Anschutz Trophy.

The Los Angeles Galaxy are the champions of the Westearn Conference—regular season and playoffs—and Real Salt Lake are the champions of the East...no wait, that's not right. The Chicago Fire are the Eastern Conference Champions...no wait, that's not right either.

All right, I got it. Here it is. Let me allow myself some time to clear my throat. Here it goes:

Real Salt Lake benefitted from the crossover rule. This is why they were placed in the Eastern Conference bracket. RSL finished as the eighth overall seed. They are like Sky Blue FC are to the WPS playoffs: the unexpected underdog.

T-110: I don't believe the G's will make the same mistake, though. They shouldn't. Lightning striking twice is the last thing LA wants. I am still disappointed by Abner Rogers failing to capitalize at the HDC.

T-105: BigSoccer is a community I have frequented for a while. There is this section known as MLS Fan Rivalries. We have a thread called the Playoff Losers' Lounge, where fans of sides that are not alive in the playoffs drown their sorrows away.

Some post rave videos. Others post simple bottles of beer, wine and spirits to share with the visually inebriated. So it is written by the thread starter, Topper. Topper doubles as a moderator, and also works as an HDC employee.

T-100: Qwest Field is a stadium fit for three codes of football: rugby, American, and association. Actually, I will have to check for myself if it has hosted a rugby international test match.

This is a solid field for play, but the turf is a bit fast. This will be a factor.

T-95: It's less than two hours to kickoff of MLS Cup 2009. And the intensity continues to build as the fans go through the turnstiles, tifosi and other favors in hand. Don Garber, our esteemed Commissioner, is here, as well as the usual football luminaries.

T-90: An hour and a half to go before kickoff near the Space Needle. And here are the lineups from MLSNet.com.

LOS ANGELES GALAXY
2009 MLS Western Conference Champions
Manager: Bruce Arena
White tops with blue trim, white shorts and socks
Formation: 4-1-2-1-2 (4-4-2 Diamond)

1 Ricketts

2 Dunivant ---- 16 Berhalter ---- 4 Gonzalez ---- 28 Franklin

33 Birchall

10 Donovan ---- 23 Beckham

9 Kirovski

14 Buddle ---- 18 Magee

Substitutes:
12 Saunders
7 Klein
6 Lewis
8 Kovalenko
21 Gordon
20 De La Garza
5 Marshall


REAL SALT LAKE
2009 Eastern Conference Champions
Manager: Jason Kreis
Burgundy tops with blue sleeves, blue shorts and socks
Formation: 4-1-2-1-2 (4-4-2 Diamond)'

18 Rimando

3 Russell ---- 4 Olave ---- 6 Borchers ---- 17 Wingert

5 Beckerman

77 Williams ---- 8 Johnson

11 Morales

10 Findley ---- 14 Movsisyan

Substitutes:
84 Mathis
20 Grabavoy
2 Beltran
16 Espindola
12 Alexandre
19 Campos

T-85: I am busy munching on some pita chips and spinach dip from Costco. Actually, I prefer Sabra hummus as a companion dip. With this combination, I am taken to the streets of Jerusalem. I know it's Kosher, with the Pareve appellation added. I have yet to find out if it has earned Halal certification, thus making it good for at least three religions.

Aside from that, I like the taste. Makes a good sandwich condiment for the soft variety of bread. Excuse me while I snack on this spinach dip. Santa Barbara Bay is a solid brand of dip, too. But for Stacy's, I recommend Sabra as a partner.

T-80: An hour and twenty to kickoff. I am rubbing my fingers as I type this part of the play-by-play. At this point you should be watching MLS Extra Time on MLSNet.com.

T-60: Kickoff is scheduled for 5:55 p.m. ET/8:55 p.m. ET. A rundown on some stuff from the MLS office.

Jason Kreis has the chance to become the fourth former MLS player to also win an MLS Cup as coach. The first was Frank Yallop (Tampa Bay 1996-98); he won two MLS Cups in charge of the San Jose Earthquakes (2001, 2003). Peter Nowak (Chicago 1998-2002) led D.C. United to victory in MLS Cup 2004, and Dominic Kinnear (Colorado 1996; San Jose 1997; Tampa Bay 1998-2000) guided the Houston Dynamo to back-to-back Cup victories in 2006 and 2007. Kreis scored 108 goals, still fourth-most all-time in MLS history, in a 12-year career with Dallas (1996-2004) and Real Salt Lake (2005-07).

Arena becomes the third coach to guide a team in four MLS Cup Finals, joining Steve Nicol, who guided the New England Revolution in four championship games (2002, 2005, 2006, 2007), and Sigi Schmid, who brought the LA Galaxy to the MLS Cup Final in 1999, 2001 and 2002, winning on the final occasion, as well as guiding last year’s triumph by the Columbus Crew. Kreis will be the 15th different coach to manage a team in the MLS Cup Final.

T-59: Just four players currently on the Galaxy roster were with the team when it won the MLS Cup the last time. In that 1-0 victory in extra time against the New England Revolution, Landon Donovan and Todd Dunivant each played the entire 120 minutes, while Alan Gordon came on as a substitute in the 119th minute. In addition, current Galaxy assistant coach Cobi Jones started and played 109 minutes. Josh Saunders was an unused substitute goalkeeper. Ironically, current RSL midfielder Ned Grabavoy was also a starter in midfield for the Galaxy in that game—coming off in the 66th minute for Guillermo Ramirez, the ultimate hero after scoring the game’s lone goal midway through the extra-time periods.

Nine players with the Galaxy have won the MLS Cup. Landon Donovan has won three; two with the San Jose Earthquakes (2001 and 2003) in addition to the 2005 win with, LA. Todd Dunivant also won in 2003 (an unused substitute), while Josh Saunders was also an unused substitute in that ’03 Earthquakes victory. Tony Sanneh also won back-to-back MLS Cups with D.C. United in 1996 and 1997. Alecko Eskandarian (D.C. United, 2004), Dema Kovalenko (2004), Chris Klein (Kansas City, 2000) and Stefani Miglioranzi (Columbus, 2008) complete the Galaxy Cup-winners. Sanneh (1998), Kovalenko (2000) and Klein (2004)—along with Mike Magee (2008, New York) have all reached an MLS Cup Final and lost.

Four Real Salt Lake players have played in previous MLS Cup Finals, and two came away winners. Ned Grabavoy was a starter for the LA Galaxy in their last win (2005 vs. New England), and Nick Rimando was the starting goalkeeper for D.C. United in their MLS Cup victory against Kansas City in 2004. Andy Williams was a starter for the Chicago Fire in their 4-2 loss to San Jose in MLS Cup 2003, and Clint Mathis made his lone appearance in an MLS championship game a decade ago, playing 90 minutes for the Los Angeles Galaxy in a 2-0 loss to D.C. United in MLS Cup ’99.

Current Galaxy players have made their marks on MLS Cup Finals. Landon Donovan has scored three goals in his three final appearances, most all-time. Donovan is one of two players to have scored two goals in an MLS Cup Final, hitting twice in San Jose’s 4-2 win against Chicago in MLS Cup 2003.

The other one is Galaxy teammate Alecko Eskandarian, who scored twice for D.C. United the following year, in a 3-2 win against the Kansas City Wizards. That year, Dema Kovalenko became the first player sent off in an MLS Cup Final when he handled a ball on the goal line. Tony Sanneh scored goals in each of the first two MLS Cups, one of only two players in MLS Cup Final history to score in back-to-back finals (along with New England’s Taylor Twellman).

Donovan has won three MLS Cups, one of 10 players with as many as three MLS Cup rings. Donovan was also named the MLS Cup MVP in 2003, joining Alecko Eskandarian as winner of the honor, when he won the next year.

T-57: The Los Angeles Galaxy finished with 33 points in 2008, tied for last place in the Western Conference, then ended up atop the West in 2009 with 48 points, one of four teams that have gone worst to first in MLS history, finishing at the bottom of a conference one year then winning it the next. The New England Revolution were the last to do it, in 2005—also reaching the MLS Cup Final (where they lost to the LA Galaxy). The Kansas City Wizards did it in 2000—also playing (and winning) MLS Cup, while the MetroStars performed the feat as well.

The Galaxy’s defensive turnaround—from 62 goals conceded in 2008 to 31 allowed in 2009—was the biggest in league history. The Kansas City Wizards allowed 53 goals in 1999, then allowed just 29 goals in 2000.

So far in the MLS Cup Playoffs, 13 different players have started for the LA Galaxy. Midfielder Chris Birchall started the first game vs. Chivas USA but was then struck down by illness; Chris Klein started in his place in the second leg of the conference semifinals and the conference championship. After starting both games against Chivas USA, Todd Dunivant was also ill for the conference final, and replaced by rookie A.J. DeLaGarza.

Real Salt Lake also used 13 different starters in their three postseason matches. Tony Beltran started at fullback in the first semifinal series match vs. the Columbus Crew; the spot has been filled by Robbie Russell for the last two games. After coming off the bench for Fabian Espindola for the first two games, Yura Movsisyan started in his place in the conference final vs. Chicago, with Espindola coming on in his place.

The Galaxy have not conceded a goal in 250 minutes of playoff action, since Maykel Galindo’s goal for Chivas USA in the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinal Series. It’s the 11th longest in MLS history and the fifth-longest in Galaxy club history; they will move on to 10th all-time with six scoreless minutes, surpassing the Galaxy’s scoreless run in 1999. The all-time record is 374 minutes by the New England Revolution in 2002.

Landon Donovan, the winner of the 2009 Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player award, is the sixth league MVP to play in the MLS Cup Final in that same season, and the second in a row. Guillermo Barros Schelotto of Columbus lifted the Cup last year, as did Tony Meola (Kansas City) in 2000 and Carlos Ruiz (Los Angeles) in 2002. Two MVPs have lost in MLS Cup: Marco Etcheverry (D.C. United) in 1998 and Taylor Twellman (New England) in 2005.


T-55: Donovan has the chance to join a very select group with a fourth MLS Cup victory. Jeff Agoos, who won five championships (DC: 1996, 1997, 1999; SJ: 2001, 2003) leads the way; Donovan would join Jaime Moreno (DC: 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004) and Dwayne De Rosario (SJ 2001, 2003; HOU 2006, 2007) as the only other fourtime winners. Donovan is currently among a group of seven 3-time winners (Marco Etcheverry, Pat Onstad, Eddie Robinson, Richard Mulrooney, Wade Barrett, Craig Waibel).

During the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs, Landon Donovan converted both penalty kicks he took, the first two he has taken in the postseason in his career. For his regular season career in MLS, Donovan has converted 19 of the 21 penalties he has taken—a 90.5 percent success rate, the best in league history and well above the all-time average of 75.7 percent. The only two goalkeepers to stop Donovan from the spot in MLS? Current RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando, who did it in 2007, and RSL goalkeeper coach Jeff Cassar, who did it with FC Dallas in 2004.

David Beckham has faced Real Salt Lake just once in his MLS career—and it was a game to remember. He scored two world-class goals May 3, 2008 to bring the Galaxy back for a 2-2 draw, the only time in his 44 league and cup appearances for the Galaxy he’s scored two goals. Beckham did not play in either Galaxy-Real game in the 2009 regular season.

Each team had a number of players represent their countries during the 2009 season. Landon Donovan was a regular for the USA in World Cup qualifying, and also played in the FIFA Confederations Cup. David Beckham added to his historic England caps total, while Chris Birchall represented Trinidad & Tobago and Donovan Ricketts played for Jamaica during the year. Kyle Beckerman was a part of the U.S. squad in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, while Will Johnson played for Canada and Jean Alexandre played for Haiti in the continental championship. Andy Williams also represented his homeland of Jamaica.

T-50: One of the fans from the New England Revolution just interviewed Drew Carey, owner of the Seattle Sounders. He put it quite nicely: "Managing a club is just like how you would manage a team in a video game-but with millions of dollars."

Cash flows, revenue and expenses and all that fun jargon that I am re-learning and re-tooling at DeVry University. A class act, that's Mr. Drew Carey, ladies and gentlemen here on Bleacher Report—I told You Sol and the WPS Fan Corner.

T-45: Some highlights of the season, followed by more analysis from the ET crew.

T-38: Kevin Stott, of Chino, Calif., will be the MLS Cup referee for a third time, also presiding over the 2001 and 2005 finals. Stott ran the middle in 20 games during the MLS regular season, whistling an average of 23.5 fouls per game, slightly higher than the league average of 22.9. He issued an average of 3.8 cautions per game, also just slightly above the league average of 3.74. He sent off four players while awarding two penalty kicks. Stott was also the referee in the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinal Series between Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy. Stott has been a FIFA referee since 1995 and has officiated in MLS since the inaugural season.

The assistant referees are C.J. Morgante of Grove City, Pa., who will be running the line in his first MLS Cup Final, and Robert Fereday of Laurel, Md., in his second (also 2007). The fourth official is Baldomero Toledo of Norwalk, Calif., who was the referee in MLS Cup 2008.

T-25: ESPN's broadcast begins.

T-5: I like the ladies showing the Anchutz for the first time to the pitch. Let's make that an MLS tradition, too.

FIRST HALF START: 5:55 p.m. PT

1'- MLS Cup 2009 is underway. The LA Riot Squad, Galaxians, ACB and others who made the trip up have their flags and confetti ready.

2' - First foul of the game, on Kyle Beckerman of RSL. The East champions have been earning the lion's share of possession, though.

3' - The Galaxy clamp defensively. Here they go. Real Salt Lake is there to swarm on the ball.

4' - Quick pace from the beginning.

5' - Ricketts is getting a few goal kicks early. Beckham wasn't going to get to that one.

6' - RSL's backfield is content passing the ball. The fans want some action towards the front. Here they go. A solid clearance from Greg Berhalter.

8' - Bruce Arena looks on with intention and focus. A cool, calm, collected mind of the game, he wants to give the G's their third MLS championship in their history.

Buddle should have done better with that header, and Arena did not like that one bit.

9' - Berhalter's walking the tightrope.

10' - Set piece for Real Salt Lake. Wasted shot by Morales. A great view of the Anschutz.

11' - When you have a game on a synthetic pitch like this, the ball moves quicker, and the game flows a bit more faster, pending referee intervention.

Corner for LA. Beckham to take.

12' - Cleared away. Take two and short. Magee impeded on the cross, and it's a goal kick.

13' - RSL on the setup. Yellow card to Will Johnson. Conspiracy theory: are the officials playing on minimum wage? It seems they get a boost with every fine the coaches get for criticizing them.

14' - Set piece for RSL. And Yura Movsisyan is shaken up but is back on his feet.

15' - Morales is favoring his knees.

16' - He is hurt. Jason Kreis may need to make one of his subs early.may have to sub him out. This is an interesting turn of events.

Not a fan of Beckham's hair, either. For the time being, RSL is playing with ten men.

19' - Doesn't look like LA is taking advantage of this quite nicely. Morales returns to the pitch after a stretch.

20' - Both teams need to adjust how they pass the ball to cope with the makeup of the pitch.

21' - Substitution Real Salt Lake
IN 84 Clint Mathis
OUT 11 Javier Morales

What a shame. He hates to be limping, and he is shaken. Poor guy can't go on. Don't commit suicide on us if the Galaxy win this one.

23' - Now this is starting to get annoying. Get over it already, Javier! Santa Maria...

24' - You could call that offsides with braille, Kevin Stott. Good save by Nick Rimando, and a brave attempt by Donovan Ricketts, who slides on the FieldTurf to make a save. Literally.

25' - Good interception by Nat Borchers. Here comes RSL.

26' - Beckerman tried to find Findley but it wasn't gonna work.

27' - Here's a corner for Los Angeles. Number three. That was a wasted chance by Buddle. Terrible timing.

28' - Set piece for LA, but too much mustard on the hot dog for Landon Donovan.

30' - It seems like everyone is trying to play catchup to this ball. Here comes Real, but a foul on Mike Magee nullifies the transition.

31' - A free-flowing game so far—still scoreless. That was a wide shot by Andy Williams.

33' - The Galaxy are trying to get the deliverables to their  forwards, but the midfielders and defense of RSL anticipate their moves.

35' - That was a wide shot by Magee. He'll have that one back.

38' - Arena and Kreis watch on, but Kreis seems to be the more nervous of the two managers. This is some good marking by Real Salt Lake. Now Mathis is injured.

39' - "Come on!" says Arena with frustration in his tone. His patience begins to exhaust. Yellow card to Chris Birchall.

40' - How many more times will Edson choke when he has the chance? Offsides.

40' - GOAL!!!! Los Angeles Galaxy — 18 Mike Magee — Assist 10 Landon Donovan
LA 1 RSL 0
Not this time, though. Magee atones for his misfortunes with the first goal of this game.

41' - The fans in blue and gold are loving it, but the RSL supporters know there is a long ways yet to in this game.

43' - Throw-in for Real Salt Lake. That was a solid delivery from Donovan. And Magee made no mistake in the finishing.

45' - Beckerman is slow to get up, but does. Set piece for Real Salt Lake. Great save by Donovan  Ricketts. Two minutes of stoppage time for this half. Four chances to one in favor of Los Angeles, says Galavision, the Spanish-language provider. *

45' + 2' - Yura Movsisyan will want that back. Real will want this half back too.

HALFTIME

Los Angeles Galaxy 1
Mike Magee 40'

Real Salt Lake 0


Kevin Stott, for all he is worth, would be wise not to get into an argument with the Galaxy players.

Personally, that injury to Javier Morales was a big blow to this team with the tackle by David Beckham. I hope that wasn't what Stottsy was reminding Becks about: no hard tackles.

ESPN360.com is talking about Liverpool vs. Birmingham City. I'm like: Adios, Rafa Benitez, back to the carousel you go.

Going back to the match, Los Angeles needs to add to this lead. They cannot let Real back into it. Build on the lead, and dispossess, dispossess, dispossess.

SECOND HALF START: 7:00 P.M. PT

46' - The second half of the last game of the 2009 Major League Soccer season is underway.

Substitution Real Salt Lake
IN 20 Ned Grabavoy
OUT 8 Will Johnson

The fish toss—a Seattle institution since way back when. Nice catch of the day, Mr. J.P. Dellacamera.

47' - Real Salt Lake has rallied from behind before. Let's see if they can do it here.

48' - That was a great save by Ricketts, who unfortunately collided with Findley. Three-way collision. This has to be a big blow for the G's. Dust off the backup keeper Josh Saunders, but what was Omar Gonzales thinking?

The rookie of the year might end up becoming the goat if Real Salt Lake can capitalize on Ricketts getting winded out there.

51' - Thankfully he is up and back at it. That was a scary situation. Gonzales will have to be careful next time.

52' - Beckham is smiling. It's all a theater for him, the number 23 for the Galaxy. Meanwhile, Sean Franklin with the mohawk is starting to wonder.

54' - Here comes Real Salt Lake on the attack. Fredy Montero of the Sounders is interviewed by Galavision.

55' - The delivery by Beckham is snuffed out. After this match, he'll take a one-month break before returning to AC Milan on home to boost their Serie A title hopes.

56' - Williams should have done better. 1-0 Galaxy, and I believe Stottsy will award ample stoppage time after 90 minutes pass.

57' - Here's a set piece for LA. The RSL wall deflects the Beckham shot. A bit low for his liking.

59' - Good clearance by Ricketts again. This LA Galaxy defense continues to impress. No penalty awarded, either.

60' - The Real player were clamoring for it, but it's not gonna work.

61' - A.C. Milan, by the way, are third in the Serie A table, seven points off Inter Milan as of this post.

62' - Still plenty of time for Real Salt Lake to equalize. Ricketts is still walking off that injury. The Big Cat from Jamaica is tough as nails, and I believe he will able to finish this game.

63' - And there's the equalizer.
GOAL!!! Real Salt Lake — 16 Robbie Findley
LA 1 RSL 1

We've got ourselves a contest. The Galaxy is going to be on their heels. Findley made the Galaxy back line pay for failing to mark him, and slotted it home.

65' - Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 12 Josh Saunders
OUT 20 Donovan Ricketts

Well so much for Ricketts finishing the rest of this game. He is clutching his abdomen right now.

66' - Corner now for the G's. Wasted. Well, the Salt Lake fans knew that there was a long ways yet to go, and their patience has been rewarded.

69' - Here comes RSL again. Good defending from Berhalter. Sportsmanlike gesture from Movsisyan. Here's the throw-in. And the first save from Saunders.

70' - You know, when I think of Saunders I think of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's Joe Saunders. And that was a blown shot by Movsisyan. He'll want a lot of these chances back after this game is over.

71' - It looks like some Sounders fans stopped by to watch the game anyway. You can only wonder what could have been.

72' - After regulation and stoppage time, if it stays 1-1 you know what's gonna happen next: two 15-minute periods, and then penalties if it still isn't decided then.

73' - I think the fans will want to see this go the distance.

74' - Substitution Real Salt Lake
IN 16 Fabian Espindola
OUT 14 Yura Movsisyan

Espindola is an established player, who also spent time playing with Boca Juniors in his youth. He's a young player, and he will be looked up to in future for Real.

76' - Corner for the Galaxy. Beckham needs to find someone on the delivery, and he couldn't. Goal kick for Nick Rimando.

I like Rimando's ability as a keeper. I hope he considers playing for the Azkals because he has Filipino blood in him.

78' - Subsititution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 7 Chris Klein
OUT 33 Chris Birchall

79' - We head into the crunch-time part of regulation in the 2009 MLS Cup. The tension builds with Real Salt Lake's next set piece. Mathis will take this.

Tim Leiweke and Victoria Beckham look on in the press box. Foul on RSL. Beckerman fouls Beckham. Here's another set piece.

81' - Once again, Edson Buddle botches the finish. It seems a broken record. That chance by Espindola went into the safe hands of Saunders.

82' - Good save by Rimando. The Galaxy do not want this to go to extra periods, or, heaven forbid, the lottery.

83' - Hello, hello, hello—another corner. The G's reset. This is some great defending from RSL. Goal kick. And the fans in the stands making plans to shield themselves from the cold.

85' - Good clearance from Saunders. He was ready for this game, apparently. RSL again on the counterattack, and LA intercepts but is called offside.

86' - High shot from RSL, goal kick for the Galaxy. Poor Edson Buddle, you have to feel for him. But more so, Gonzalez is asking to be subbed. He'll get his wish.

88' - Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
In 20 A.J. De La Garza
OUT 4 Omar Gonzalez

89' - Here comes a big corner for Real Salt Lake. Seven minutes of stoppage time, as expected. Saunders gets that one.

90' - We knew we were going to have plenty of additional time for injuries, and here we go.

90' + 1' - Espindola was off on that cross. Not sure where he was feeding this to. The Real Salt Lake supporters, led by the Loyalists, are fired up. As for the Galaxy supporters...they are nervous.

90' + 2' - Set piece time for Real Salt Lake. Mathis's long shot caught by Saunders. He is filling his role nicely.

90' + 3' - All three teams have used up their subs. Chris Wingert with the throw-in. Now A.J. De La Garza is trying to find someone open with a white strip.

90' + 4' - De La Garza needed to get that away from Espindola. Beckerman to take this corner.

90' + 5' - Chris Saunders is doing his job. He may have to work another thirty minutes and penalties.

90' + 7' - We enter the final minute of regulation stoppage time. Here comes RSL again...but the Galaxy is not going to let them steal this one.

Two 15-minute periods on the way. Stottsy is bumbling and stumbling, too. This is fun.

END OF REGULATION
Los Angeles Galaxy 1
40' Mike Magee

Real Salt Lake 1
63' Robbie Findley

FIRST EXTRA TIME PERIOD START 7:58 P.M. PT

91' - It's time for extra time. Both 15-minute periods will need to be played whether one team is ahead or not. Beckham is getting some salbutemol in the dugout. It's THAT cold.

92' - It's ironic, because I drank some coffee today, and Seattle is known for their java. Beckham with a professional challenge on Ned Grabavoy.

93' - That was dangerous in the box for Los Angeles. Findley was very close to getting his second of the night-and the potential game-winner. But A.J. De La Garza's not gonna let that happen easily.

94' - Another corner for Los Angeles and still no help. Seven corner for LA, two for RSL, zero goals between them.

96' - You have to applaud Josh Saunders' role playing backup. But knowing how Real Salt Lake is able to convert on those penalties, the Galaxy need to score while they can in extra time.

97' - Wide shot by Findley. There's gonna be a lot of Angelenos wanting to burn an effigy of him if he becomes the hero tonight.

98' - Real Salt Lake is getting the majority of shots tonight. It really makes you wonder.

99' - This some great tactics from the midfield.

100' - Foul on Beckham, and a chance for RSL beckons. I would think that he is used to this when he was with Manchester United. Side netting for Mathis.

102' - Seeds in this case do not matter at all. Real Salt Lake may be seeded 8th, but they aren't playing like it. Wasted corner, but here's a throw-in. Not gonna work.

103' - You have to be wondering about the finishing by both sides. Rimando hasn't had to do much work, but Salt Lake's not getting it done, either.

105' - And that's the end of the first period.

END FIRST EXTRA TIME PERIOD
Los Angeles Galaxy 1
40' Mike Magee

Real Salt Lake 1
63' Robbie Findley

START SECOND EXTRA TIME PERIOD 8:15 P.M. PT

106' - The last fifteen minutes of extra time begin. ESPN360's having some technical difficulties. Thank God for Justin.tv. All right, they are back on.

Back on, Beckham...this play-by-play is beckoning to be a wordplay on itself.

107' - Good clearance by Los Angeles. They have been on the defensive for the major part of extra time. Yikes.

108' - Offsides Real Salt Lake. And everyone is raising their scarves. This is what it's all about: 48,011 coming down to the XBox Pitch at Qwest Field for this final.

109' - Terrible throw-in on the run, but the Galaxy back line reel it in. Here they come. The nets fall off their foundations in Rimando's end. Alan Gordon impeded.

110' - Well, more extra time after extra time just to adjust the netting? Won't be surprised. Hey, I just created a tongue twister. Finally, the netting is linked back into position, to the applause of the host Sounder faithful.

111' - My guess is that this could go to the lottery. I would think (and this is from an outsider's view, no offense intended) that practitioners of the Latter-Day Saints denomination to not gamble. They would be wise to allow an exception, should the circumstances require it.

112' - That's a foul on Espindola, but no card from Stott. He's only issued two cards this game, a yellow to both sides. So for the most part, he's done the right thing in allowing the match to play out.

114' - Berhalter with another mark. I'll commend Stott for letting this game play out without excessive intervention.

115' - Set piece for LA again. Let's see what they do here. The verdict: a two-fisted punchout by Rimando.

116' - Here's RSL again. This is some nice action on the Galaxy's half. Corner for Real.

117' - Rimando saw the shot coming from Donovan. Now he's doing his share of work.

118' - Wonder what that cheeky move was from Ned Grabavoy.

119' - A crunch-time set piece from Mathis on the way. And another solid save from Chris Saunders.

120' - How many stoppage time minutes do we have here? That was cute kick from Espindola. One minute, the fourth official says.

120' + 1' - Another great save from Saunders. Ladies and gentlemen, the fans got their money's worth at Qwest—so the verdict goes.

END EXTRA TIME

Los Angeles Galaxy 1
40' Mike Magee

Real Salt Lake 1
63' Robbie Findley


PENALTIES START 8:35 PM P.T.

Based on what I know from the shootout with Chicago, I have a gut feeling Real Salt Lake's going to shock the MLS world just like Sky Blue FC pulled off the upset over the LA Sol.

Of course that did not go to extra time, let alone penalties, but it was an upset. And I do not know if Saunders will be ready for this.

Here's the rundown.

LOS ANGELES GALAXY

Made:
David Beckham
Greg Berhalter
Mike Magee
Chris Klein

Missed:
Jovan Kirovski
Landon Donovan
Edson Buddle

REAL SALT LAKE

Made:
Clint Mathis
Robbie Findley
Ned Grabavoy
Chris Wingert
Robbie Russell

Missed:
Kyle Beckerman
Andy Williams

Real Salt Lake wins on penalty kicks, 5-4

That, everyone, wraps up this play-by-play. How about that? Los Angeles chokes yet again in football. Congratulations, Real Salt Lake. It's party time at Rio Tinto Stadium.

The gut feeling did not lie. This match can just go to the bowels of hell from whence it came if you are a G's fan.


Stay tuned for a recap on ITYS, WPS Fan Corner and Bleacher Report.

It's funny how things can go from one extreme to the other.

It's funny how a little elbow grease, work and determination will get you to where you need to go. 

Funny the way things work out sometimes, isn't it?

This Sunday on Seattle's Qwest Field, a team comprised of once-dubbed "nobody's" or "has-beens" will be on the hook for an MLS Cup title. 

No, it's not the Los Angeles Galaxy.

In 2007, Jason Kreis was a beleaguered fading star on a second-rate squad. The team had boatloads of talent, but it often saw nothing but circles in the win column. 

With a surplus of high draft picks, a scoring machine that had a penchant to get lost in his own reflection and aging wonders, Real Salt Lake was headed toward oblivion. 

Quite literally. 

The team's contract with the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium was up, and it needed a new place to hang its hat. 

Many folks opposed building a stadium for RSL. You know, the usual political mumbo jumbo. Taxes, fees—location, location, location.

In the middle of all this was Kreis. 

At age 34, the youngest active MLS coach at the time, the former MLS all-time scoring leader had work to do. 

This wasn't his team. This wasn't a team. It was a mess—a jumbled blob-of-an-excuse for those who opposed RSL and soccer in the state of Utah as a whole, to take the said higher road. 

Soccer had run its course in Salt Lake. 

Plastered over headlines of local newspapers were headlines that read: "RSL. Real St. Louis?"

Rumors of the team being relocated on account of no place to play grew louder and louder, and all this time Kreis was busy in his laboratory assembling his would-be monster.

Things had to be done. 

First off, Kreis shipped the mercurial and oft-dramatic Jeff Cunningham out of town. The two never really saw eye-to-eye, and Kreis saw the first step to his far-away masterpiece on schedule.

Then went the team's former No. 2 overall draft pick Mehdi Ballouchy. 

Then went Chris Klein.

Then the stabilizing Eddie Pope hung up the cleats. 

Yeah, the team even had "phenom" Freddy Adu in uniform for one season. The youngster fled for success overseas that hasn't exactly been channeled quite yet.

In the meanwhile, Kreis was organizing the pieces on his board. He acquired a bulldog and face of the franchise in midfielder Kyle Beckerman. 

There was a trip to Argentina to scout talent and there he found midfield mainstay Javier Morales and a left-footed attacking Fabian Espindola, who plays an amazing pest to opposing defenses.  

He received allocations and future draft picks to stock up on. By trading a good friend in Klein, Kreis got his hands on arguably the fastest forward in the MLS.

Yura Movsisyan came in for virtually nothing. 

In came Nick Rimando, a 5-foot-10, 27-year-old keeper who was cut loose by D.C. United after five season and some championships in hand. 

In these moves, Kreis and general manager Garth Lagerway were building an ark of talent and most obviously, an ark of know-how and togetherness.

When Sunday rolls around, RSL will be lining up against the belle of the ball. 

The most-recognized signing in the history of the league, David Beckham will be gunning for his first piece of MLS hardware. The best U.S. soccer player of all time, Landon Donovan will be hungry for his first in five seasons. 

The Galaxy are where they are because of the talent they have and the impressive patch-job Bruce Arena did coming in. 

He got his Eddie Lewis' and his Greg Berhalter's—he got his guys that he knew he could count on to help get his team to where they are now.

Kreis seemed like a craps guy. 

He was rolling the dice, unsure of what would come, but steadfast in knowing that if he would be able to assemble the correct and just characters, that the ship would be righted. 

It has been. 

RSL has a chance to be the first team in the recent history of professional sports in America to have owned a championship despite finishing the season with a losing record. 

They finished the 2009 campaign with a record of 11 wins, 12 losses and seven ties. 

Yeah, the banality is there. 

Squeaking into the playoffs is one thing, RSL did it on the last day of the regular season and needed help from about three different teams. 

Destiny smiled, winked and gave them a right of passage—they didn't disappoint.

Besting the league's best team in a home-and-away round and then snapping the hearts of Chicago Fire fans, much thanks to Nick Rimando's Superman heroics. 

Unlike a year before, when RSL stumbled into the 2008 playoffs and were about five shots off the post to advancing to the MLS Cup. 

2008 wasn't it. I think someone wants to give Cinderella an encore dance here in 2009.

And go figure, a team that won all of two road games all season long go back-to-back heading to the Midwest and beating the two best teams in the Eastern Conference on their turf. 

Is RSL a perfect team? Far from it. They still have a penchant for playing so conservatively that they often bury themselves due to lack of creativity and anyone familiar with the team knows that any lead from the 80th minute heeds no cause for complacency. 

This team has a flaws. Its coach has flaws. This team has no superstar, no media mogul. 

It's one shining star at the moment. Given its chance to enter the atmosphere and surprise so many, it's taken that opportunity and ran with it. 

Contributions from Clint Mathis and Will Johnson, a couple guys that were given the quintessential thumbs down for so many years. 

A back-line of comprised of another minor Kreis deal made major with the acquisition of Chris Wingert, to coincide with Nat Borchers coming back to the states from Norway and a freight-train named Jamison Olave. 

The magical concoction that is this RSL squad can just continued to be rattled off and you'll find contributors left and right.

None will be more important and firm than Andy Williams. The Jamaican international has been with RSL since the 2005 inception, and has endured more than losing seasons along the Wasatch Front. 

Marcia Williams, Andy's wife has been in a tough bout with cancer, and anytime you see No. 77 on the pitch, you hear a roar from the RSL faithful.

Side-stories are few and far between here in 2009 for this franchise, and standing in its way of the team's first MLS Cup Sunday is the team that has the star power.

Folks will pick against RSL as they have all season long, and it's helped the cause along the way.

Kreis is a life-long underachiever overachieving. He relishes the role. As does his team. 

They've been written off since year one, day one. 

It's about time that the "nobody's" got a shot at proving doubters wrong. 

When asked about RSL, one hardline fan replied, "Our team is one big star."

Spot on assessment, and be assured Kreis and his guys won't take it for granted. Not after that revolutionary overhaul.

Now we'll sit back and see if this slew of no-namers can pull the ultimate coup d'état. 

Mission impossible is now 90 minutes away from being flipped on its back. 

Backs to the wall, Kreis and Co. wouldn't have it any other way.

Timely defense and one well-played ball were enough for Real Salt Lake to defeat the Seattle Sounders 1-0.

In typical home fashion, RSL bounced back from a disappointing loss to Chicago last week. The defense of RSL was able to consistently deter Seattle's attacks, and any chances they had were quickly flicked away by a defender, or Nick Rimando.

In particular, Nat Borchers was the defenseman of the game, as he always seemed to make the right play near the box when a Seattle forward had made it past his defender. Many of Seattle's chances were broken up in this way.

Although Seattle controlled the ball for most of the match, RSL created more prime scoring opportunities. Kyle Beckerman, Robbie Findley, and Clint Mathis all had open shots in the first half that were either blocked by Kasey Keller, or just missed the goal.

The game's lone goal came by a smart move on Nick Rimando's part. On a goal kick, Rimando quickly called for a ball, placed it, and gave an excellent ball down the middle of the field to a streaking Robbie Findley. Findley maintained excellent control in the face of a defender, and drove the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal.

Seattle should have gotten an opportunity at a score in injury time, as a shot from a Sounders player was blocked by an RSL defender's hand in the box, but no call was made from the refs, despite appeals from the entire team.

With that little bit of bad luck for Seattle, it has now been three games (including the Barcelona match) in which the Sounders have failed to find the back of the net.

RSL gained a valuable three points in the Western Conference standings in their push to make the playoffs.