FRISCO, Texas -- Well, my editors told me it was my last column a few weeks ago. But I was asked to write one more about MLS Cup. I have enjoyed this so I agreed to do it.
The MLS Cup Final was played on a warm and good weather day -- a little breezy, but in a stadium (Pizza Hut Park) built for soccer. We certainly have come a long way. Thanks go to Lamar Hunt and Phil Anschutz for building the structures that house our beloved game.
The New England Revolution were the favorite based upon their consistent performance in the regular season. The Los Angeles Galaxy were a team that was hot, but had been hot and cold throughout the year. The United States is different. Most countries have one cup competition and a league championship as well. In England you have many cups but still a league. We have two cups: the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the MLS Cup. The winners are teams that get hot in the right games.
The Galaxy were a threat all afternoon with the speed of Landon Donovan and Herculez Gomez always creating an uneasy feeling for the New England defense. As a fan you always got excited whenever the ball went to the front two. If Chris Albright or Cobi Jones joined them you really moved to the edge of your seat.
The run by Donovan in the first half was electrifying. He is as fast with the ball as most without it. Matt Reis came up big to save on that play. Albright turned the corner and created havoc as did Jones during the first half. The starting 15 minutes and the last five of the half belonged to the Galaxy.
The middle part of the first half was in the hands of the Revolution. New England builds great triangles and its interpassing is very good. The Revolution use a controlled buildup and when you see Shalrie Joseph, Taylor Twellman, Pat Noonan and Steve Ralston combine it looks very fluid. However, the speed of the attack allowed the Galaxy to get back and organize.
Jay Heaps made a couple of interesting runs and only a saving foul by the Galaxy's Tyrone Marshall at the edge of the box saved a goal. Ralston got inside on the right and Joseph had a wide open header off a corner that he would love to have another shot at.
The second half was more of the same. The patient New England buildup versus the get up and go of the Galaxy offense. Los Angeles appeared more dangerous throughout since they attacked quickly and often had 3-v-3 or 2-v-2 opportunities.
Clint Dempsey did not impact this match as he usually does. Revolution coach Steve Nicol moved him up front when he took Noonan out. But Dempsey still could not find the game. Ever since Daniel Hernandez joined the team it has forced Joseph into a slightly different role. Hernandez sits deeper and Joseph is the one who pushes up more and gets forward a little more. Often throughout the season this has worked well and Joseph has produced offensively. On a hot day in Texas it seemed to sap him of his energy and effectiveness later in the game.
Jose Cancela and Andy Dorman tried to inject some life into the Revolution game. As the second half wore on the Galaxy were pounding away. The Jones shot off the post almost sealed New England's fate. Then there was a Michael Parkhurst saving tackle on Donovan in the goalmouth. Kevin Hartman came up big on the Cancela shot and Ugo Ihemulu headed clear at the very end.
But in between, L.A.'s Guillermo Ramirez struck a sublime volley into the back of the net. All season long he has been off target, even scoring his only goal by striking it off the post and the goalkeeper's back from the penalty spot. Reis came out to punch clear a corner and Ramirez got all of it.
The goal was a worthy strike. You always want games that are tight and go into overtime to end with a good goal. This goal definitely fit the bill.
Congratulations go to New England for a great season and the quality of play it displayed over a seven-month period of time. The San Jose Earthquakes also deserves credit for their fine year. They and New England were the most consistent teams of the year.
Congratulations also go to the Los Angeles Galaxy. The talent was there and it all came together at the right time. My personal congrats to my many friends on the Galaxy staff and the players I know for a job well done. Titles are hard to come by and each one is special and needs to be savored.
Another year, another champion. Next year we will do it all again. Do we really need to take four months off? I cannot wait for the new season to begin.
Sigi Schmid is one of the winningest coaches in MLS history, and was recently named head coach of the Columbus Crew. He led the Los Angeles Galaxy to the 2002 MLS Cup championship. Send comments to Sigi at sigischmid@hotmail.com. Views and opinions expressed in this column views and opinions are the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
