Nick Rimando runs to celebrate with Robbie Russell who hit the game-winning penalty
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
For the second straight week 90 minutes of regular time and 30 minutes of extra time were not enough to separate RSL and their opponents. With the score tied 1-1 at the end of regulation the L.A. Galaxy and Real Salt Lake played 30 minutes of a scoreless extra time which sent the game into penalty kicks. For the second straight game goalkeeper Nick Rimando came up huge in the shootout and Robbie Russell scored on Real's seventh kick to give RSL the MLS Cup.
Real struggled to find their rhythm in the first half and faced adversity when Javier Morales left the game in the 22nd minute due to a injury sustained from a David Beckham foul. Clint Mathis came on to replace Morales who left the field in tears due to being unable to continue in the championship game. The Galaxy took advantage of RSL's struggles in the 42nd minute when an RSL midfield turnover resulted in a Galaxy counterattack. David Beckham passed a ball out wide to Landon Donovan who sent a perfect cross to Mike Magee who struck the ball past a helpless Rimando to give the Galaxy a 1-0 lead after the first half.
RSL faced their second batch of adversity at halftime when Real had to use their second sub to replace Will Johnson with Ned Grabavoy due to Johnson fighting the side effects of a bout with food poisoning. However, despite the hardship, RSL started to find their groove in the second half before getting the equalizer in the 64th minute. Robbie Findley received a pass from Grabavoy in the box and after stumbling sent the ball to Yura Movsisyan who took a shot which deflected off a defender and eventually found its way back to Findley who hit an open shot into the back of the goal. After the goal the L.A. Galaxy faced adversity of their own as starting keeper Donovan Ricketts had to be replaced due to a hand injury suffered earlier in the match and central defender Omar Gonzalez was replaced due to a leg injury.
Real Salt Lake controlled large portions of the second half and extra time but were unable to find a second goal sending the game into penalty kicks. Andy Williams had the first chance to win the game for RSL but his shot was saved by Galaxy backup keeper Josh Saunders sending the penalty kicks into sudden death. Former RSL player Chris Klein scored on the next attempt but Chris Wingert evened up the game with a clutch penalty to send the penalty kick session into the seventh round. In the seventh round, Nick Rimando saved Edson Buddle's attempt before Robbie Russell stepped to the plate and delivered a kick into the lower left corner to win RSL the MLS Cup.
RSL won the MLS Cup for the first time in team history in their first appearance in a final. After struggling through the regular season, RSL was the last team to qualify for the playoffs but caught fire at the right time knocking out both the top seed from the Eastern and Western Conferences to win the MLS Cup. For his efforts in stopping two penalty kicks, Nick Rimando was named MVP of the MLS Cup Finals.
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