PKs Decide 2009 MLS Final Match-Up

Western Conference Final
LA 2-0 Houston

After two halves, two overtime periods, and two 18+ minute power outages the Western Conference final, which was appropriately played on Friday the 13th, came to an end with the number one seed in the west advancing to the final.

In between the lights going out, the flow of the game was traded between the Galaxy and Dynamo. LA’s Mike Magee and Houston’s Brad Davis had the best chances in the first half, but both were thwarted by strong saves from the keepers. David Beckham also forced Dynamo goalie Pat Onstad to make a sprawling save from a 25 yard free-kick.

Both teams continued to have chances on goal in the second half, but it wasn’t until Houston forward Brian Ching’s header from the six yard box was tipped off the cross bar by Galaxy keeper Donovan Ricketts that anything threatened to end the deadlock. The ball finally found the back of the net off of a Houston corner kick, but the goal was called back because of a foul in the box.

The first goal came in the 103rd minute of play. Veteran defender Gregg Berhalter punched the ball into the back of the net during a goalmouth frenzy after David Beckham’s free kick was nodded down into the middle of the box. The second goal came only six minutes later. Galaxy forward Alan Gordon made an attacking run and was taken down as he dribbled his way through the box. The resulting PK was taken by Landon Donovan who beat Onstad to the keeper’s right.

Eastern Conference Final
Salt Lake 5-4 Chicago (PKs)

The Eastern Conference final came down to a duel of the teams’ goalkeepers. After 120 minutes of play in which both goalkeepers came up big for their sides they were called on once again to deny chances from the penalty spot. After the shoot-out, Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando came out on top with three saves.

Though Rimando had the strong finish, it was Chicago goalkeeper John Busch that started out big. In the first half Busch was forced to make two reflex saves that denied the breakaway shots of Salt Lake forwards Robbie Findley and Yura Movsisyan. Both chances came as a result of Findley’s speed which was hard for the Fire’s back line to handle. Chicago had chances in the first half as well. In the 27th minute of play forward Brian McBride got on the end of a driven corner kick from Cuauhtemoc Blanco, but the resulting shot deflected off of the crossbar and then the oncoming Chicago defender C.J. Brown.

The chances in the second half were dominated by the Fire. In the 64th minute midfielder Marco Pappa was denied by keeper Nick Rimando who made a diving save to deflect a one-time attempt. The ball came to Pappa once again for a one-timer, but the shot was stopped by a Salt Lake defender. Chicago’s attack continued to press during the two overtime periods thanks to the speed of sub Patrick Nyarko, but the Fire were unable to break the scoreless draw.

The penalty shootout appeared to be heading in Chicago’s favor when Salt Lake midfielder Javier Morales put his shot over the bar, but Rimando kept his team in the game by saving the shot by the Fire’s John Thorrington. Rimando continued on to save the Fire’s sixth and seventh PKs from Logan Pause and Brandon Prideaux. The game was won when Ned Grabavoy buried his chance from the spot.