Sunday’s Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup final in Toronto features two unlikely finalists—FC Dallas and Colorado Rapids. FC Dallas is the only original MLS club to never reach the final, while Colorado has never won the MLS Cup and is in the big game for only the second time.
This unlikely matchup is perhaps just that because of the absence of any designated players (DPs) on either squad. But, what this matchup lacks in star power, it gains in heart, team togetherness, and spirit. Some might even point to the disruptive effect caused by DPs, but that would be another topic altogether.
The MLS playoffs have probably not made many prognosticators look too sharp given the rash of upsets we’ve seen in arriving at the final.
First of all, the Eastern Conference’s top team, New York Red Bulls, were ousted in the first round by the San Jose Earthquakes, losing at Red Bull Arena 3–1 in the second leg after having won the first leg 1–0 in San Jose.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference’s second place team, Columbus Crew went down to the Colorado Rapids in a penalty shootout with the aggregate score even after the two legs.
Colorado was crowned Eastern Conference champion last Saturday with a tight 1–0 victory over San Jose. Kosuke Kimura scored the only goal of the game.
The upsets were also developing in the west.
Last year’s MLS Cup winner Real Salt Lake, who pushed L.A. Galaxy all season for the Supporters’ Shield, were edged out by FC Dallas in the first round.
The only series that most prognosticators would’ve picked correctly was the L.A. Galaxy convincingly getting past Seattle.
Stunner in Carson
But last Sunday, FC Dallas put on the performance of the playoffs so far humbling the high-flying Galaxy 3–0 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.FC Dallas had lost twice to the Galaxy in the regular season. With hit man Edson Buddle scoring five goals in his last six games, a fully fit and inspired David Beckham, and the always dangerous Landon Donovan, the Galaxy were favored to make it to Toronto.
But FC Dallas relied on two ingredients to thwart L.A.’s starpower. Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, 36, stymied the best L.A. had to offer in the early going, allowing FC Dallas to get a foothold in the contest and David Ferreira orchestrated the counterattacking game plan of coach Schellas Hyndman.
Hartman pulled off an incredible diving fingertip save off a long Beckham freekick that his defenders failed to deal with. The ball bounced in the area and was headed for the top corner.
On 25 minutes, FC Dallas’s No. 10 Ferreira turned and fired a right-footer into the far corner past Donovan Ricketts, who could just watch it go by.
From there, L.A. seemed to lose their way. Beckham was hobbling slightly and the cutting edge to the Galaxy attack was nowhere to be seen.
The game took on a physical aspect as well. FC Dallas was prepared for this and the referee Jorge Gonzalez seemed to be willing to let the teams play.
Defender George John got away with a horse-collar tackle in the six-yard box on Omar Gonzalez, which should’ve been called for penalty shot.
But L.A.’s Dema Kovalenko could count himself fortunate for not receiving a straight red card, let alone his second yellow card, for a mistimed slide tackle on Ferreira.
Hyndman, coach of the year in MLS, told ESPN after the game, “Kevin Hartman was outstanding, made some great saves early. That put them [L.A. Galaxy] on their heels.
“We got a couple of great counters off it.”
FC Dallas played the perfect road game—soak up early pressure, get some strong play from the goalkeeper and score on the counterattack.
Hartman discussed his own play after the game saying, “I thought it was solid, though my goal kicks should’ve been better!”
Hartman, formerly of the L.A. Galaxy, was not one to celebrate wildly his fantastic performance. “I’ve really tried to move on. Tried to prove that I can do it myself in other places.”
Donovan recognized the impact Hartman had on the game saying, “We started the game well. A goalie can always be a great equalizer. We just couldn’t beat him. Can’t really fault our effort.”
FC Dallas has paid its dues and deserves the attention garnered by the L.A. Galaxy and New York Red Bulls. Their balance of resilient midfield, attacking prowess (leading scorer Jeff Cunningham wasn’t even used in Carson), and a veteran goalkeeper who inspires his defense are their keys to success.
An MLS Cup trophy would validate that on Sunday.