And what an MLS Cup Final it was!
First off, congrats to Real Salt Lake---MLS Cup 2009 Champions!
(photo/AP)
While Robbie Russell (game-winning PK), Nick Rimando (2 PK saves, MLS Cup MVP), and Robbie Findley (game-tying goal in 2nd half) will go down as the heros on the field, the real heros in this game were both wearing sport coats on the sideline---RSL coach Jason Kreis and LA coach Bruce Arena. Both teams had used their 3 allotted subs by the middle of the 2nd half---but 4 of the 6 subs were forced by injury or illness, including an MLS Cup-first goalkeeper substitution. RSL lost midfielder Javier Morales to an MCL tear, replaced by Clint Mathis in only the 22nd minute, as well as fellow midfielder Will Johnson, who was replaced by Ned Grabavoy at halftime due to a bout with food poisoning that started the night before. For the Galaxy, starting GK Donovan Ricketts became the first 'keeper ever replaced in the Final when he broke his hand just after halftime. Ricketts would gut it out for an additional 18 minutes before giving in, with Josh Saunders (who would also save 2 PKs in the shootout) coming on in the 66th. Bruce Arena would also be forced to replace MLS Rookie of the Year Omar Gonzalez after Gonzalez experienced calf trouble (he picked up a knock in training on Thursday). Gonzalez was replaced by his former University of Maryland teammate, AJ Delagarza.
Rimando saves the decisive PK (photo/AP)
Both coaches ended up having to make all tactical changes using only the personnel on the field (with the exception of LA's Chris Klein-for-Chris Birchall sub, and RSL replacing Yura Movsisyan with Fabian Espindola)---as was evidenced by Jason Kreis moving Andy Williams from the outside midfield to the attacking midfield role in the 2nd half of Added Extra Time (AET), with Williams too gassed to keep up his defensive responsibilities. The result of their moves??? Both teams created chances throughout the entire 120 minutes, leaving it impossible to question the standing of Arena and Kreis among the absolute best coaches in the country (not like there's ever been much question about Arena, considered among the best coaches in the CONCACAF region...but Kreis proved himself to be just as strong a tactician in Seattle last night).
Earlier in the week, SoccerJunkie mentioned the fact that the only 2 people to stop a Landon Donovan PK in the MLS were Nick Rimando (RSL's GK) and Jeff Cassar (RSL's GK coach). Think it got into LD's head? Normally money from the spot (20-for-22 in MLS play), Donovan launched his shootout attempt into the Seattle night---a decisive miss that helped cost LA the title.
The most striking image of the night---the most striking image of the season, in SoccerJunkie's opinion---was the shot of Javi Morales virtually inconsolable on the RSL bench after being forced off with his knee injury. The tears were evident as he came off the field, covering his face with his jersey, before breaking down completely on the bench. You can't say these guys don't give their everything to their team...
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MLS Commissioner Don Garber has announced that the league is interested in having Montreal join the league in 2012, which would fulfill Garber's goal of 3 Canadian teams (to go with Toronto and Vancouver (set to join in 2011)). If everything is worked out, Montreal will become the 19th team in the MLS, with Philadelphia set to join next year, followed by Vancouver and Portland in 2011. The biggest obstacle at the moment appears to be the expansion of Saputo Stadium, home of the Montreal Impact (and owned by potential MLS-team owner Joey Saputo). The league is talks with city officials to find a funding plan to bring the stadium---which currently holds 14,000---up to an MLS-acceptable capacity around 25,000.
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FIFA has announced an "emergency meeting" of the Executive Committee, which will be held in South Africa on December 2nd. The meeting, which is being held 2 days before the World Cup draw, will discuss the disputed playoff between France and Ireland, as well as the latest match-fixing probe. Despite Thierry Henry's support for Ireland's request for a replay (which was rejected by FIFA on Friday), it is expected that the result of the match will not change---but rather that the quality of match officiating will be at issue.
Thierry Henry "hands" France a place in the World Cup Finals (photo/Getty)
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Tottenham outscoring the Dallas Cowboys? In this weekend's "football"-vs-football, they sure did. Tottenham managed to out-do Dallas' 7-6 victory over the Washington Redskins by putting up a 9-spot against Wigan. Spurs went into halftime with just a 1-0 lead, but were paced by Jermaine Defoe's 5 second-half goals (including an 8-minute hat trick) in the 9-1 home laugher.
The scoreboard says it all (photo/Getty)
For their part, Wigan players have now decided to refund the ticket price for any fans that travelled down to White Hart Lane to witness the thrashing...
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While names continue to float around as to who the Red Bulls will hire as their new sporting director, an interesting new name has become available in the coaching ranks---an international coach with both playing and coaching experience in the MLS. That name would be none other than former New England 'keeper and coach (and, for a season, player/coach) Walter Zenga, who was fired by Serie A side Palermo this morning.
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Speaking of the need to hire a Sporting Director, the MLS Expansion Draft (or, in this case, Philadelphia Union's Expansion Draft) is this Wednesday. Each team had to submit their list of 11 protected players this afternoon, and the league has released them to the media. For the Red Bulls, the list includes:
Juan Pablo Angel
Danleigh Borman
Bouna Coundoul
Kevin Goldthwaite
Jeremy Hall
Carlos Johnson
Mac Kandji
Carlos Mendes
Ernst Obster
Dane Richards
Seth Stammler
Among those missing...Danny Cepero, who could be attractive for Philadelphia on Wednesday. To his advantage (if he wants to stay in NY), Jon Conway---a native of the Philadelphia area---was left unprotected by Chivas USA.
Philadelphia will have the opportunity to draft 10 Senior and Developmental players during the draft, with a maximum of 1 coming from each team (if you do the math, that means 5 teams will not lose anybody to the expansion team). All Developmental players who are drafted must be offered a Senior contract, and must appear on Philadelphia's roster as a Senior player by the roster deadline for next season. No team may protect all of their Internationals, leaving a minimum of 3 available (or 1, for teams with 3 or less Internationals).
Be sure to check back on Wednesday evening to see who coach Peter Nowak drafts...
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On a final note, David Beckham confirmed after the MLS Cup Final that he will rejoin the LA Galaxy after the World Cup---and that he does intend to exercise his option to buy an MLS franchise after his playing days end. His contract allows for him to purchase a team beginning with the 20th team to enter the league, which will be in 2012, at the earliest.
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