FRISCO, Texas -- In the first MLS Cup, Cobi Jones and the Los Angeles Galaxy battled in an ultimately fruitless attempt at the Major League Soccer championship.
In the latest edition, Jones and his L.A. squad are back, for the fifth time now in 10 seasons of league history. The Galaxy will face the New England Revolution at Pizza Hut Park on Sunday. And although the MLS Cup is not a novelty for Jones, the excitement the cup final brings does not wear off.
"Every cup is rewarding in and of itself," Jones said. "This is the culmination of all the hard work we put forth throughout the whole year. And all the criticism to have taken over the whole year and to actually make it to the final, that's what's it is all about."
Jones' career has been an exemplary one. One of just a handful of players remaining from the inaugural 1996 season, Jones is the only one to have played all 10 seasons with the same club. After Sunday's final, he will have participated in half of the league's title games.
But two years ago, Jones seemed to have hit a wall. In 2004, he battled through an injury-plagued season and did not score a goal. In fact, since scoring a career-high 19 goals in 1998, Jones' goal-production had fallen every season.
"I can put 2004 as a scrub season because of (injuries). It took pretty much a year to figure that out," Jones said. "Now I look at it like this season was basically a continuation of 2003 for me."
This season, Jones erased doubts about his effectiveness. He scored three goals and played in a career-high 31 games. And he's saved his best soccer for when the team has needed it the most.
Against San Jose in the Western Conference Semifinal Series, Jones combined with Landon Donovan for what turned out to be the series-clinching goal. Two weeks later, Jones broke down Colorado's defense and slipped a ball to the front of the net that Donovan put away. That too was the decisive goal and helped thrust the Galaxy to MLS Cup.
Jones' blazing speed has tapered off some but that has not corralled him.
"Certain guys wouldn't have the confidence to take on players like he does in that sort of situation," Galaxy defender Tyrone Marshall said. "He has the confidence to go at guys. That's what we need and that's what keeps the defense on its heels."
Against New England on Sunday, Steve Ralston or James Riley will likely have the task of containing the veteran, whose recent play has not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff.
"Cobi Jones is a player who I think has not gotten enough credit for us being in the final," Galaxy coach Steve Sampson said. "He's as good as he was when he was in the national team two World Cups ago."
Sampson, who coached Jones in the 1998 World Cup, said that Jones is a very influential player with great sway on both players and coaches.
"Really, when Cobi decides that he wants to lift this team and insists that this team plays better or have more concentration or trains better, he's the one that's getting it done," Sampson said. "When Cobi speaks, this team listens and that goes for this coach."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
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