Monday League Review (Tuesday Edition)

And we are back- where did I leave off- Oh yeah, extra time. The LA Galaxy were gassed heading into extra-time as it looked as if they were more than content deciding the Cup in a shootout. With that attitude once again Real Salt Lake dominated the match, several times looking as if they would find the game winner in the two 15-minute sessions. Time and against Salt Lake kept the pressure on the Galaxy's Josh Saunders. However despite all of that pressure it was the Galaxy who created more shots. Robbie Finley did get an opportunity in the 94th minute when he fired a shot from inside the box, however Saunders was there to keep it at 1-1. The Galaxy, even though they were soundly beaten through the midfield (so much for the Beckham-Galaxy duo), did put more chances on net as Beckham put a shot from the wing on target in the 116th, then Donovan put a shot on goal in the 118th from about the same spot. In addition to being shot from the same position they also had the same outcome-Nick Rimando made a comfortable save on both of them. With neither team being able to find the back of the net, the match had to be solved in the drama, the chaos, the luck, and the complete frivolity of finding a winner in a minimal aspect of the game. I am of course talking about one of the most exciting events in sports. A Penalty Shootout, with this to decide MLS Cup 2009. Here is how it all happened.

Shootout

Round 1: Penalty Kicks to decide who wins the league championship is the ultimate climax of the year, and who else to start off this climax than the league all-star, and glamor player, the one the only David Beckham. Beckham stepped up and calmly put his penalty down the middle past a diving Nick Rimando to put the Galaxy on the board first. Next up was Real Salt Lake's Clint Mathis. Mathis took no time at all as he just set the ball down and put the ball in the middle of net to level the score at 1-1 after the first round of shooters.

Round 2: The Galaxy's Gregg Berhalter was up next, the European veteran Berhalter put his shot in the upper right corner with his left foot giving Salt Lake Goalkeeper Nick Rimando no shot at saving it. With Berhalter's goal the Galaxy were back in the lead. However Real Salt Lake answered again, this time in the form of Salt Lake hero Robbie Findley. Findley put his shot in the upper right corner, leaving all for Josh Saunders to do was stare at it. With Findley's goal Salt Lake tied the shootout at 2 a piece, as both clubs were perfect through two rounds.

Round 3: Jovan Kirovski was up next for the Galaxy, Kirovski put his shot in the lower left corner, however RSL's Nick Rimando once again showed his PK stopping process Rimando denied Kirovski, and gave Salt Lake a window of opportunity to take the lead. Kyle Beckerman was up next for Real Salt Lake as he had a chance to take advantage of the Galaxy slip-up. Beckerman fired a rocket into the lower left corner, however Saunders was up to the task as he got just enough of the shot to deflect it away from the goal and keep the score level at 2-2. With both goalkeepers making clutch saves, the shootout was still tied at 2-2 after three shooters.

Round 4: Then came the moment I was waiting for in the shootout, Landon Donovan, the American King of Penalty Kick, for sure Donovan was going to bury this kick, and put the pressure back on the Royals. However Donovan stepped up, made his typical sprint up to the ball, and did something not typical for Donovan. HE MISSED--I mean he flat out missed, the shot soured over the crossbar and into the radiant Seattle crowd. Donovan's miss could be classified as a choke, or just a simple miss, he is a mere mortal you know. With the Galaxy captain's miss Real Salt Lake's Ned Grabavoy had a chance to give Salt Lake their first lead of the shootout. Grabovoy's shot just made it inside the right post, and just past the reach of Josh Sounder to give the upstart, #8 Seed Real Salt Lake the lead in the shootout of the MLS Cup. For the first time in the match, you could see defeat on the faces of the Galaxy players, as they were all in a line watching what was unfolding before them. After four rounds of shooters Salt Lake had an improbable 3-2 lead.

Round 5: With the Galaxy needing a goal to continue the shootout LA turned to Mike Magee to keep the Galaxy's title hopes alive. With all the pressure in the world on the Galaxy striker, Magee was calm as he buried his Penalty into the upper right corner of the net. With the goal the crowd erupted, whether there was a pro-LA feel to the crowd or perhaps they just wanted to see more shootout soccer is debatable. But with Magge's goal Los Angeles still had a chance to win the Cup. However RSL could still win the match then and there if Salt Lake's Andrew Williams found the back of the net. With a chance to give the club's first ever MLS Cup title Williams fired a shot into the right corner of the net. However once again substitute Goalkeeper Josh Saunders guessed right and blocked Williams' shot. With the save the shootout was tied at 3 a piece, meaning it was time for sudden-death shootout to determine a winner.

Round 6: The first shooter in the sudden death rounds of Penalty Kicks was Chris Klein of the Galaxy. Klein, a long time veteran with the Galaxy, looked poised to get his second title in his career with the Galaxy. With his right foot Klein put his kick into the left side netting and the Galaxy were on top 4-3. With Klein's goal, it was up Real Salt Lake's Andrew Williams to find the back of the net, and continue Salt Lake's hopes of winning the league title. Williams' shot just missed the fingertips of Galaxy Goalkeeper Josh Saunders, and went into the net. With the goal the score was level at 4-4, and the two sides had to go into another round of sudden death penalty kicks to determine who would win the 2009 MLS Cup.

Round 7: Edson Buddle was to start the second round of sudden death penalty kicks. Buddle throughout the year has put in several goals that have helped the Galaxy throughout the course of the year. However on this night he was to be the goat for the Galaxy has Buddle's kick went right into the gut of the the MLS Cup MVP Nick Rimando. With Rimando's save Real Salt Lake had a chance to gut the Galaxy away and win the franchise's first ever MLS Cup. Robbie Russel stepped up for the Lakers, and he put his shot into the lower left corner of the goal frame. Saunders, who played exceptional during the match and should be looked at by plenty of clubs next year, however on this particular shot Saunders did not stand a chance. The Galaxy Goalkeeper just stood his ground and watched the ball rattle the back corner of the net. The ball was struck so hard that it stayed intertwined into the net for the rest of the night. With Russel's goal Real Salt Lake won their first ever MLS Cup. Salt Lake players stormed Russel and winning Goalkeeper Rimando. It was pandemonium for the Lakers, and just pure exhaustion and disappointment for the onlooking Galaxy, who came so close to achieving this dream lineup's destiny of winning North American Soccer Premier Trophy. After Russel's goal it was celebration time for Real Salt Lake, and their coach Jason Kries, who became the youngest coach in league history to win the MLS Cup

With the win Real Salt are the Champions of Major League Soccer for 2009. First thing is first: Real Salt Lake IS NOT the best team in the MLS. Not All-Time, not even this season. Real Salt Lake squeaked into the playoffs with a losing record, and finished in eight place. As the number eight seed they were transfered to the other conference since the Western Conference bracket was full. From that position it was safe to assume that the Lakers were not going to go far. However in last Sunday's match against the Galaxy, they were the better team. In their first round series with the Crew, they were the better team. As a loyal Fire fan (sorry for the small bias), I will argue that RSL played even with Chicago, however in the extra-time session and in Penalty Kicks (which the Fire were inches away from winning) but nonetheless Real Salt Lake was the better team. It should not be forgotten that Salt Lake needed to win three of their last four to get into the post-season, but once they were in, they rocked. Does this make them the best team in the league-NO-not even close. However should we condemn them for using the post-season format to their advantage. HECK NO. Salt Lake did everything the league asks for in a Champion, get into the top eight after the end of the regular season. Then win the playoffs, Salt Lake accomplished those feats, and at times looked like world beaters. So bring on all the RSL/Playoff format Hate. Like it or not, Real Salt Lake are the 2009 MLS Cup Champion. Congratulations to Jason Kries on your first title as a Head Coach. And Congratulations to Real Salt Lake, winning the State of Utah their first title the state's history. It has been a great season, can't wait till Seattle Sounders vs. Philadelphia Union come late March see you then.