November 21, 2009
MLS NOTEBOOK
Mathis has 10-year itch

SEATTLE -- Former Red Bulls midfielder Clint Mathis played in his first MLS Cup in 1999. He had to wait 10 years before he returned to the championship game -- with Real Salt Lake.

RSL plays the Los Angeles Galaxy for the league championship at Qwest Field Sunday at 8:30 p.m. (ESPN, Galavision).

When he made his first appearance at MLS Cup, Mathis was just completing his second year in the league as a 22-year-old. The Galaxy, then under current Seattle Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid, dropped a 2-0 decision to D.C. United in Foxborough, Mass.

Mathis thought that he would be back for much more.

"I definitely thought that the teams that I played on would get past the conference finals," he said.

Off the bench

During the playoffs, Mathis has been relegated to the role of a second-half substitute as former MetroStars midfielder Andy Williams, who came off the bench for a good portion of the regular season, has found himself in the starting 11.

"You always have to be ready," Mathis said. "You never know when a coaches decision will bring you into a game."

Mathis obviously is willing to sit on his ego for the good of the team and in many ways, himself. For all he has accomplished, Mathis is still trying to take home that elusive championship.

Mathis said that he would do "whatever is ask of me. It's not a big deal."

Several years ago Mathis said that winning championship was his last goal. He re-iterated that statement earlier this week.

"It's what we all play for," he said. "I've always had goals. I wanted to play and score in a World Cup and I did that. I wanted to win a championship. that's the only one I haven't achieved."

And he still wants one just as badly.

"It's close enough to grab," he said. "I would like to take this moment so I could be happy.

"You never know when you're going to get back here."

No. 1 assistant

Behind every successful head coach there's not only a woman, but a knowledgeable assistant coach.

For Galaxy coach Bruce Arena, who directed the Red Bulls from 2006-2007, it's Dave Sarachan. Sarachan has been at Arena's side at the college (University of Virginia), professional (D.C. United and L.A.) and the international (U.S. National Team).

"Dave's not only a good coach, but he's a good friend," Arena said. "In all these situations, you need to have the right people around you to compliment you and Dave's always been a compliment to me. He's a perfect match for me. We're a little bit like The Odd Couple in some ways. I don't know which one of us is Felix. He's just a great compliment and he's an invaluable part of our team and organization."

Sunday will be Sarachan's fourth MLS Cup in his third team. He was there an assistant with D.C. United in 1998 and 1999 and as the head man with the Chicago Fire in 2003. The '99 United team was the only MLS champion with which Sarachan was associated.

"It doesn't get old, I'll tell you that," he said of returning to MLS Cup.