Real Salt Lake are champions of Major League Soccer after penalty kicks

Real Salt Lake supporters wait for their club to come over to their part of Qwest Field to celebrate after the 6-year old Utah club won its first MLS Cup title Sunday night in Seattle. (David Falk) See more photos here.

Real Salt Lake, the 8th seed in the 2009 Major League Soccer playoffs have taken their late-season momentum all the way to their first-ever league championship trophy on penalty kicks after a 1:1 overtime draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

46,011 fans bundled up and then stood as one for over three hours as they watched the MLS mayhem unfold at Seattle's Qwest Field. Real Salt Lake fans traveled in large numbers (perhaps as many as 1,200 spread out over two distinct red-clad sections) and Los Angeles Galaxy fans made their presence known on the corner of the south end.

The match was the usual close, occasionally invigorating MLS affair that we've seen all year around the league. There was a lot of tepid midfield play, plenty of unforced turnovers, and the occasional moment on attack. LA took the lead late in the first half. With RSL's defense pushed back, Beckham played wide to Donovan. Given time to survey the field, Donovan lifted a gentle cross to Magee, who finished neatly at the far post.

RSL owned much of the second half and overtime session as the Galaxy lost goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and then later Rookie of the Year Omar Gonzalez to injury. After a Movsisyan shot for RSL was blocked in the penalty area in the 64th minute, Robbie Findley connected with the loose ball and put it home with his left foot. On the play, Ricketts was injured and had to be replaced by in goal by Josh Saunders. It marked the first time a goalkeeper had been substituted in MLS Cup history.

The wind was swirling on the Qwest Field pitch and so were both fate, fortune and the loyalties of the audience. As Real Salt Lake continued to mount attacks, those who came to Qwest as neutrals began to appreciate the Utah side's efforts and take satisfaction in the failure of the big Los Angeles stars. Loud howls of approval echoed through Qwest when David Beckham was dumped, flopped or complained. The same for the failed efforts of Landon Donovan. There was always the possibility that perhaps the gritty, sometimes sloppy play would eventually cause the Seattle Sounders FC fans to sit, but they remained standing the entire match, refusing to say goodbye to the 2009 MLS campaign until the last possible moment.

That moment, or rather those moments, came in penalty kicks when the Anchutz trophy was up for grabs and had both club's fingerprints on it in a see-saw shootout.

Andrew Winner describes the scene: In the end, neither team scored and the match went to penalty kicks. While six championship games have gone to overtime, only one other MLS Cup was decided on penalty kicks, when Houston bested New England in 2006. Neither side looked willing to bend early.

Beckham and Mathis converted the first round of penalties, followed by Berhalter and Findley. Rimando, who had made three saves in the Eastern Conference final, made the first big play, diving to his right to deny Kirovski. Saunders answered by saving Beckerman in a near carbon copy of the previous kick.

Donovan stepped up. Normally deadly in these situations, the LA captain's shot went over the bar. Grabavoy seized the momentum with a coolly taken goal. Magee's successful effort kept Los Angeles alive. RSL's Williams calmly strode to the spot to seal the win, but Saunders dove left to make the save.

Now into the sixth round, Klein and Chris Wingert both tallied. Rimando came up with another big save on Buddle, leaving Philip F. Anschutz Trophy in defender Russell's hands. This time the shot went in, going low to the left with Saunders diving the other way. Russell immediately dropped to his knees as Rimando and the rest of the squad raced in to create the celebratory dogpile.

I stayed with the RSL supporters who were trying to get to the edge of the stands, and filmed their joy as their players mingled, almost in disbelief, around the Qwest pitch. Red had won the day, and the club that was chosen over Seattle in the 2004 expansion race, had its first league title.

Pre-match atmosphere in and around Qwest Field:

Final PK and post-match celebrations:

Seattle Media Coverage:

Seattle Times / Steve Kelley: A fantastic finish

Seattle Times / Jose Romero: RSL wins on PK's

TNT / Don Ruiz: Real's the real thing, baby

Seattle Pitch / Ron Stickney: It goes to kicks from the mark

Prost Amerika: RSL crowned champs

The Offside / Laurie: The best sign at MLS Cup

Rick Morrison was pitch-side and sent us these great shots early this morning. We'll have much more from Rick as we reflect on the Final over the next few days!

Real Salt Lake (3-0-1) vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (2-1-1)
November 22, 2009 -- Qwest Field

Scoring Summary:
LA -- Mike Magee 2 (Landon Donovan 1, David Beckham 1) 41
RSL -- Robbie Findley 3 (unassisted) 64

Penalty-kick shootout:
LA -- David Beckham (Goal)
RSL -- Clint Mathis (Goal)
LA -- Gregg Berhalter (Goal)
RSL -- Robbie Findley (Goal)
LA -- Jovan Kirovski (Saved)
RSL -- Kyle Beckerman (Saved)
LA -- Landon Donovan (High)
RSL -- Ned Grabavoy (Goal)
LA -- Mike Magee (Goal)
RSL -- Andy Williams (Saved)
LA -- Chris Klein (Goal)
RSL -- Chris Wingert (Goal)
LA -- Edson Buddle (Saved)
RSL -- Robbie Russell (Goal)

Real Salt Lake -- Nick Rimando, Robbie Russell, Nat Borchers, Jamison Olave, Chris Wingert, Andy Williams, Kyle Beckerman, Javier Morales (Clint Mathis 22), Will Johnson (Ned Grabavoy 46), Robbie Findley, Yura Movsisyan (Fabian Espindola 75).

Substitutes Not Used: Jean Alexandre, Tony Beltran, Pablo Campos, Chris Seitz

Los Angeles Galaxy -- Donovan Ricketts (Josh Saunders 66), Sean Franklin, Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez (A.J. DeLaGarza 89), Todd Dunivant, David Beckham, Mike Magee, Chris Birchall (Chris Klein 79), Jovan Kirovski, Edson Buddle, Landon Donovan.

Substitutes Not Used: Alan Gordon, Dema Kovalenko, Eddie Lewis, Yohance Marshall

Misconduct Summary:
RSL -- Will Johnson (caution; Tactical Foul) 14
LA -- Chris Birchall (caution; Reckless Tackle) 39

referee: Kevin Stott
Referee's Assistants: C.J. Morgante; Rob Fereday
4th official: Baldomero Toledo
time of game: 2:47
attendance: 46,011
weather: Cloudy -and- 45 degrees

All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial