November 22, 2009
THE REAL THING
RSL becomes first team with sub .500 record to win MLS Cup

SEATTLE -- Real Salt Lake became the first MLS team with a regular-season record under .500 to win the MLS Cup as it upset the Los Angeles Galaxy in the final at Qwest Field Sunday night.

Goalkeeper Nick Rimando made two saves in the penalty-kick shootout and defender Robbie Russell converted the game-winner as RSL won the tie-breaker, 5-4, after playing to a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes before a crowd of 46,011.

Rimando, voted the game MVP, stopped Jovan Kirovski and former Red Bulls forward Edson Buddle on the Galaxy's seventh and final attempt.

Russell, the 14th shooter, then put his shot to the lower left for the winning score.

Former Red Bull Clint Mathis, Robbie Findley, Ned Grabavoy, one-time St. John's standout Chris Wingert and Russell converted their attempts for RSL, which finished the regular-season at 11-12-7. Kyle Beckerman and Andy Williams had their attempts saved by Galaxy backup goalkeeper Josh Saunders.

David Beckham, Gregg Berhalter, Mike Magee and Chris Klein put home their attempts for the Galaxy. L.A. captain Landon Donovan, who takes virtually all of the penalty kicks for the U.S. National Team because of his proficiency, missed his attempt in the fourth round as he sent his try over the crossbar.

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena was forced to juggle his lineup after a week-long bout with the flu forward defensive midfielder Dema Kovalenko to the bench. Arena moved several players around. He deployed Beckham, who had been playing in central midfield, to the right side, moved Chris Birchall into the attacking midfielder's role and brought in the veteran Kirovski as the defensive midfielder.

Both teams felt each other out for the opening minutes as forays into the penalty area were rare. It wasn't until the ninth minute that former Buddle took the first shot, a header that sailed wide left.

Five minutes later, Will Johnson earned an ill-advised yellow card when he decided to bump Donovan out of bounds instead of going for the ball.

RSL lost its most dangerous midfielder in the 22nd minute as Javier Morales left the game with a left LCL sprain. Mathis replaced Morales, who was in so much pain that he bent over and cried on the field.

RSL's best early attacking opportunities were thwarted by offside calls as the Galaxy, slowly, but surely, started to make its opponents defense sweat as the first half went on.

Kirovski took a shot from the right side in the 25th minute that RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando stopped. He let the ball pop up and bounce once, but was able to gather it in before another Galaxy player could do any harm.

Former Red Bull Mike Magee had a close encounter in the 36th minute. Donovan, finding himself with some room, fed Magee on the left side. Magee fired an eight-yard shot that tantalizing rolled across the goalmouth in front of Rimando and out of bounds.

Five minutes later, Magee made sure he didn't miss as he converted a right-wing feed from Donovan from three yards for a 1-0 Galaxy lead. Beckham started the scoring sequence by connecting with Donovan, who motored down the right side. As he entered the penalty area, Donovan sent a pass to the onrushing Magee, who slotted the ball to the far post in the 41st minute.

Nat Borchers almost equalized in stoppage time as his close-range shot from the right side of the penalty area was saved by goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.

Ricketts gave some Galaxy some scary moments early in the second half as he hurt his right hand as he and Robbie Findley collided in the penalty area. L.A. defender Omar Gonzalez, who was tracking back, apparently slammed into Ricketts' hand before the collision. Ricketts remained in the match.

Buddle and Mathis were involved in an incident in the 62nd minute when the former flipped Mathis over his back, but referee Kevin Stott did not award an obvious yellow card.

RSL equalized in the 64th minute. Yura Movsisyan took the initial shot that was blocked by central defender Omar Gonzalez. Robbie Findley corralled the rebound and he beat Ricketts from three yards for a 1-1 tie.

Arena had seen enough and pulled Ricketts in favor of Saunders in the 66th minute, the first time a keeper was replaced in the 14 years of the MLS Cup final. Ricketts had a right hand contusion.

Findley almost gave RSL a 2-1 lead eight minutes into the first overtime, but his 16-yard blast hit the outside right netting.

After Beckham tripped Kyle Beckerman, Mathis fired a 28-yard free kick just wide right in the 101st minute.

Klein almost settled matters in the 109th minute as his header from point-blank range sailed barely wide right.