MLS Cup 2009: Conference Finals Recap
Chicago vs Salt Lake
BRIDGEVIEW, IL — The underdog Real Salt Lake came into Toyota Park with nothing to lose. After 120 minutes without a goal, they survived a penalty kick shootout to advance to their first MLS Cup with a 5-4 victory against the Chicago Fire.
In the penalty shootout, the Fire started off strong with three successes in row. Clint Mathis easily beat Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch for the first RSL PK of the night, but Javier Morales sent the ball off the crossbar and over. RSL ‘keeper Nick Rimando then stopped John Thorrington’s attempt as Real’s Robbie Findley, Kyle Beckerman and Will Johnson all buried their attempts.
With the shootout tied at 4-4, Rimando came up huge stopping attempts by Logan Pause and Brandon Prideaux. Fabian Espindola soared his attempt high, but late substitution Ned Grabavoy nailed his shot toward goal. Busch got a hand on it, but it wasn’t enough as the ball went into the goal for the RSL victory.
Los Angeles vs Houston
CARSON, CA — The Los Angeles Galaxy’s rise to prominence is complete after winning a bizarre but ultimately historic Western Conference Championship, defeating the Houston Dynamo 2-0 on Friday night at The Home Depot Center.
Gregg Berhalter and Landon Donovan scored for the Galaxy, who will play in their sixth MLS Cup on Nov. 22 at Seattle’s Qwest Field.
The Galaxy endured a late kickoff (8:25 p.m. PT), two 18-minute power outages and the stingiest defense in the playoffs thus far but still overcame those odds in order to keep their season alive.
Entering the match, Houston’s defense had played about as well as could have been asked as the club did not allow a goal in 210 minutes against Seattle in the Western Conference Semifinals. By contrast, the Galaxy allowed two goals in their first playoff game, a 2-2 draw against Chivas USA on Nov. 1, but the Galaxy recovered to post a 1-0 shutout a week ago.
Video Highlights
Fire vs Real
Galaxy vs Dynamo
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