Preview: 2009 MLS Cup Final

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake
Sunday, November 22nd at 7:30 CT on ESPN

How many high pressure wins does it take to erase the title of underdog? After entering the tournament as the lowest seed, Real Salt Lake might need one more as they try to complete their Cinderella Story toward Sunday’s David vs. Goliath MLS Cup final against the Los Angeles Galaxy. RSL is looking to complete what some would call an upset, but both teams will be playing with rosters compiled of youth, experience, offensive flair and solid defense. The two teams have more characteristics in common than the star power that separates them.

Stars like Landon Donovan and David Beckham give the Galaxy the image of having the stronger attack of the two teams. League MVP Donovan supplied his team with leadership as well as a 12 goal and 6 assist season. Unfortunately the efforts of Donovan were not quite mirrored by the rest of the Galaxy. As a team LA only scored 36 goals which was a far cry from the 55 goals the team scored last year. Donovan’s partner up top, Edson Buddle, was the team’s second leading goal scorer with just five. Statistically, David Beckham had a less influential role this season as well with only 2 goals and 3 assists, but he can still put the ball in very dangerous positions as was seen in the Galaxy’s playoff game against Chivas USA. Mike Magee has also shown himself to be an influential attacking player after combining with teammates for six assists this season.

Though they may not have the same international stars as the Galaxy, Salt Lake is not lacking a strong attacking presence of its own. RSL finished the MLS season tied for second with 43 goals. Robbie Findley finished just behind Donovan in the Golden Boot competition, tallying 12 goals and 4 assists. Yura Movsisyan has also provided Salt Lake with firepower, finishing the season with 8 goals. Movsisyan has been more productive as a sub than as a starter so keeping him on the bench despite his current form could assist his team more in the final. The experience and the assists for the two young forwards will fall on Andy Williams and Clint Mathis, who have 13 assists and 21 years of MLS experience combined for Real Salt Lake. Although Mathis has been coming on as a sub recently, these elder statesmen and Kyle Beckerman will be expected to set the tone of the game for RSL through the midfield.

With both teams having the possibility for explosive offenses, the form of the teams’ back lines and goalkeepers are extremely important. After the Eastern Conference final it is clear that Nick Rimando is a highly skilled keeper, especially when it comes to PKs. This may become a key fact in the final. The Galaxy have relied on goals from the spot in their wins over Chivas USA and Houston in the playoffs. A face-off between Rimando and Donovan could end up deciding the game. Despite Salt Lake improving to 35 goals against this season from 41 last year, the team was still near the bottom of the league in goals against. The back line has a fair amount of experience with Robbie Russell, Nat Borchers and Chris Wingert which should help RSL contain the efforts of Donovan and Beckham, putting more pressure on the Galaxy’s supporting attackers.

The back line for the Galaxy has a much broader gap of experience with the pairing of 36-year-old Berhalter and the 2009 Rookie of the Year Omar Gonzalez in the middle. Also, on the flanks, LA has rookie A. J. DeLaGarza and Sean Franklin, who has one year under his belt. Despite the lack of experience the Galaxy cut their goals conceded in half from last year, finishing with 31 which tied them for third in the league. Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts has been solid in net for LA, finishing with a 1.03 goals against average and nine shutouts. Berhalter and Gonzalez have worked well together in the middle and will need to have good communication to withstand RSL’s attacking runs while Sean Franklin will have his hands full attempting to negate the speed Salt Lake has up front.

When these two teams met during the regular season, RSL beat a Donovan and Beckham-less Galaxy at the Home Depot Center 2-0. The second meeting between the sides ended in a 2-2 tie at Rio Tinto Stadium. Neither team was able to take advantage of playing in front of their home fans. The neutral location for the final creates a factor that could go either way: crowd support. The Sounders had the best attendance this year and a sell-out crowd full of Seattle supporters is expected, but which team will they back? Neither team had a winning record against the Sounders this season, but two games will probably be in the back of the crowds’ minds. When Seattle first played the Galaxy, a total of eight cautions and one ejection were given out. The second game consisted of four cautions and three ejections. Despite Sounder owner Drew Carey’s previous support of the Galaxy there is no love between the Pacific coast rivals.

It may take more than the support of Seattle soccer fans to turn the game in Salt Lake’s favor. Though they have shown they can score multiple goals in a game with their 3-2 win against Columbus, their game against Chicago gives doubt to their ability late in the game where LA has excelled, beating Houston 2-0. If RSL can get on the board first and extend to a two-goal lead, they will come out on top, but if the game is close at the end or goes into overtime the trophy will go to the Galaxy.