Sunday, December 02, 2012

Galaxy MLS champions

This year's MLS final was a repeat of last year's final between LA Galaxy and the Houston Dynamos, and it was to be David Beckham's last match for the LA Galaxy. Whatever one thinks of Beckham (a pretty boy, yes, but an outstanding footballer, fighter and representative for his country, whose career is one of the most interesting ever in football) undoubtedly Beckham has had a huge influence on the growth of the MLS.
And the final was indeed an exciting and high quality match. Houston was best in the first half, but Galaxy also had good chances with the incursions by Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan on the passing by Beckham and Juninho. Donovan missed a huge chance in the first half, so it was instead Calen Carr who brought Houston ahead in the last minute of the first half when Adam Moffat totally tore apart the defense on a great pass.
In the second half Galaxy put more pressure on Houston, and fifteen minutes into the second half Omar Gonzalez equalized on a header after a Juninho cross (Omar Gonzalez was the best player of the match). Soon after a Robbie Keane goal was annulled for off-side, but the way was clear, and a few minutes later Galaxy was awarded a penalty when a Dynamo defender made an illegal save in the area, and Landon Donovan scored, clearing himself for his first half miss.
After this it did not look as if Galaxy could be shaken, and in the last minutes of the match Robbie Keane scored the 3-1 goal on a penalty kick. It seemed a bit strange that they would not have let David Beckham kick as a last homage to the great Englishman.
Nevertheless, the victory, and the well-deserved title, David Beckham's second was surely homage enough!

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