Real Salt Lake -- a team with the second-worst away record during the regular season, and a team without a single representative in the MLS Best XI -- are the new champions of MLS. Yeah, I saw this one coming.
This is the culmination of a massive reclamation project led by Jason Kreis who created a team that is more than the sum of its parts. It's not too difficult to forget just how awful Real Salt Lake were in their first two seasons, and this title is a just reward for two years of dedicated effort by Kreis and the soccer side of the front office. Rimando, Russell, Beckerman, Mathis, Williams, Movsisyan, Morales, and Findley (among others) made vital plays for Real at critical moments of the season and post-season, from Findley's goals to Beckerman's midfield stewardship to Rimando's saves. The MVP of MLS Cup was always going to go to the winning goalkeeper of the penalty shootout, and probably well-deserved, too. But for me, the best player on the field was Kyle Beckerman. He shone in RSL's midfield and was the reason that Real out-created and out-played LA Galaxy over most of the 120 minutes.
This season has also seen a reclamation project no less impressive take place with the Los Angeles Galaxy, and some recuperation of reputations among David Beckham and Bruce Arena. The Galaxy slowly but steadily crept into contention in the West, grabbed the home advantage in the West on the final matchday, and took advantage of not having to leave the Home Depot Center to advance to the final. The final game did show that the Galaxy still have a way to go; there is a huge gap between Beckham and Donovan and the other nine Galaxy players. It is no coincidence that the Galaxy have only scored once off a Beckham corner kick.
Overall I didn't think it was that great of a final; there was a lot of enthusiasm and hard work but not a lot of technical ability aside from Donovan, Beckham, and Mathis. Real Salt Lake fans will have great memories of it, however, and Galaxy fans will probably have good memories too when they compare their emotions to the previous two seasons.
It all starts again in March, with a new team in Philadelphia, a supporters' group that predates it (!), and a spectacular stadium in the shadows of New York City. And we will have a true double round-robin for the first time; will the Supporters' Shield become more relevant than the MLS Cup winner? I'm already looking forward to next year!
MORE: This is the first season that the MLS Cup winner has not had a single player represented in the MLS Best XI.
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