Revolution Fall to Galaxy in MLS Cup
CARSON, Calif. – The fifth time did not prove to be a charm. The Revolution gave the Los Angeles Galaxy a major scare, but could not pull off an upset, falling 2-1 in extra time in the MLS Cup final Sunday.
Robbie Keane’s 111th-minute goal sent the Revolution to its fifth loss in the final, following failures in 2002, ’05, ’06 and ’07.
But the Revolution gave a spirited battle, rallying from a deficit and gaining control of the game in the late stages – Teal Bunbury hitting the underside of the crossbar in the 85th minute — and early in extra time. Bunbury’s miss added to the symmetry of the contest – in the ’02 final, the late Winston Griffiths hit the bar with what would have been the winning shot in sudden death overtime.
This match ended with the Revolution on the attack and Galaxy players pleading for referee Mark Geiger to whistle the end, which he did shortly after the Revolution’s A.J. Soares challenged goalkeeper Jaime Penedo for a ball on the end line.
The game marked the end of Landon Donovan’s career, but Donovan did not have as strong an influence on the game as Jermaine Jones, his former teammate on the US national team, who drove the Revolution’s midfield.
The Revolution’s resourcefulness nearly paid off, coach Jay Heaps making key substitutions and the team’s pressuring tactics leading to a 79th-minute Chris Tierney goal, matching Gyasi Zardes’ 52nd-minute score.
The Galaxy nearly scored 70 seconds into the game, when the Revolution left the right side exposed for Robbie Rogers to run uncontested into the penalty area. The Revolution recovered but struggled with their passing game, failing to connect on simple, short-range attempts which might have opened up the Galaxy defense. But the Revolution remained in contention with high pressure tactics and some strong recoveries.
Donovan put Rogers through on the left side of the penalty area with Rogers getting a weak shot off past goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth. Kelyn Rowe cleared off the line in the second minute.
The Revolution’s pressure cause several Galaxy turnovers in the early-going, but the Revolution were unable to capitalize. Jones’ left-footer was easily saved by Penedo, then Charlie Davies took a long touch and fouled Marcelo Sarvas in the Galaxy penalty area.
The Galaxy won a series of corner kicks, and a Revolution counter after the second short-circuited as Sarvas stopped Bunbury. The game opened up then, with Keane’s point-blank drive going right at Shuttleworth (21st) and Andrew Farrell making a last-ditch stop on a Zardes-Donovan combination in the penalty area (22nd). A minute later, Davies broke into the penalty area, but was stopped by a sliding A.J. DeLaGarza.
The Revolution finally started getting some extended possessions midway though the half, but failed to threaten. Keane moved to the right and was sent in on a counter but took a long touch, fouling Jose Gonçalves (34th) in the penalty area. The Revolution attack bogged down and Heaps successfully bought some time by delaying a throw-in in front of the Revolution bench (39th).
But the Galaxy came close to capitalizing on a Jones turnover in the center circle as Donovan found Zardes, but he shot wide. The Revolution recovered, with Rowe’s cross headed out for a corner by DeLaGarza (42nd).
Jones was cautioned (48th) for a hard foul on Donovan, and the pair slapped hands after Geiger issued a yellow card.
The Revolution’s aggressive approach nearly paid off as they appealed for a penalty kick when Lee Nguyen went down, sent in by Rowe, following a Galaxy turnover (51st). The Galaxy capitalized on a poor clearance as Stefan Ishikazi crossed to Zardes on the left side of the goal area. Zardes trapped the ball and held off Andrew Farrell, left-footing the shot past Shuttleworth in the 52nd minute.
The Galaxy nearly capitalized on another Revolution turnover later when Keane went in past Gonçalves, but Shuttleworth saved the low shot (70th). Seconds later, Rowe curled a shot wide right. The Revolution caught the Galaxy off guard with a long through ball from Gonçalves to substitute Patrick Mullins, who replaced Davies in the 72nd minute. Mullins went to the end line and pulled the ball back for Tierney, making a rare run into the penalty area. Tierney ran onto the ball and left-footed the shot past Penedo in the 79th minute. Bunbury nearly broke the tie, chipping a left-footer over Penedo off the crossbar (85th). Play was delayed after that as Nguyen recovered from a hard tackle near the penalty arc, then was replaced by Andy Dorman in extra time.
The Galaxy added striker Alan Gordon to start extra time, switching to a 4-4-2 alignment.
But the Revolution maintained momentum in the opening 15 minutes. In the 93rd minute, Jones broke through and drew a foul from behind from Keane, who was cautioned. Jones shot wide with a left-footer (101st), then put Mullins through for a left-footer which Penedo parried. The balle ended up free in the goal area but no Revolution player followed the play.
Keane earned a free kick, but Donovan sent the shot wide (108th). Keane scored the second goal as the Revolution failed to execute an offside trap. Rowe was called for a foul in the center circle and left the field after being treated. The Galaxy took played the ball to Omar Gonzalez, who lofted a pass to Keane, wide open on the left side of the penalty area. Keane took a touch and sent the shot past Shuttleworth in the 111th minute.
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