Real Salt Lake Beats Beckham’s Galaxy on Penalties to Take the MLS Cup

By: Laurie | November 23rd, 2009

– David vs. Goliath.
– Highest-salaried team in MLS vs. lowest.
– Most-written-about team vs one of the least.
– Western Conference winners vs. the team that just squeaked into the playoffs.
– Underdog vs. um… Overdog?

And yet the underdogs win it on penalties after dominating large periods of an intense, back-and-forth game.

This was supposed to be David Beckham’s chance to shine in MLS. Instead it was a chance for a less-storied team than the Galaxy filled with far-lesser-known players than Beckham to have their day.

RSL came out fired up and played an unexpectedly strong match, aside from about a fifteen-minute period toward the end of the first half where their back line fell apart. The Galaxy, being the Galaxy, capitalized with a goal — the expected David Beckham to Landon Donovan to Mike Magee.

RSL came back strong after the half, though, and Robbie Findley — a Galaxy reject who was traded to LA right before Beckham’s arrival in 2007 — scored an unassisted goal in the 64th.

And that’s how the scoreline would remain until the end of extra time. Both sides had chances, but RSL did well at maintining possession and did an excellent job of shutting down both Landon Donovan and an injured David Beckham.

The game went to penalties. The video, above, shows what happened next.

And the LA Galaxy are still waiting for David Beckham to lead them to a championship.

LA Galaxy supporters who made the trip up to Seattle from LA.

Saunders for Findley PK
LA’s backup goalkeeper Josh Saunders prepares for Robbie Findley’s penalty kick. Saunders came on in the second half after starting keeper Donovan Ricketts suffered a hand injury.

LA Galaxy cup loss Not the ending they’d hoped for. The Galaxy players and staff watch as the RSL players accept their awards.

David Beckham comforts an unidentified Galaxy staffer (?) after the Galaxy’s loss.

RSL Wins
Fireworks go off at Qwest Field in Seattle to celebrate Real Salt Lake’s win over the LA Galaxy.

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)

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Category: MLS, World Football

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Jeremy

Yeah, Dave, that's what we need - "The Moron and The Muppet".
Daryl

I rule at guessing things!

Will have a go at deducting things too. If the guy with cleats that Beckham is comforting is a player, then - based on the tracksuit-hat-coat combo - it's either someone who subbed out or it's an unused sub.

subbed out: Ricketts, Gonzalez, Birchall

unused subs: Alan Gordon, Dema Kovalenko, Eddie Lewis, Yohance Marshall

Ricketts, Gonzalez, Gordon and Marshall are all taller than Beckham. So...

...it's either Eddie Lewis, Chris Birchall or Dema Kovalenko.
Laurie

Also, now I'm noticing that whoever Beckham is comforting has cleats on. Which makes me think it might be a player. Anybody have a clue?
Laurie

Daryl, yep, you got it.
Daryl

el_horse's comment (very first one) had me confused for a while, but I see what they're asking. So I'll ask as well:

Laurie, what do the numbers 2 and 3 after Mike Magee and Robbie Findlay's names indicate? Is it goals scored in playoffs or something?
Dave Martinez

Jeremy - first time I have ever been called "a muppet" lol. Go for it. Hell, lets make a podcast out of it: "Jeremy and The Muppet"
Jeremy

Dave, STFU you muppet?!? That is awesome. I think I'll respond to all of your posts like that, no matter what the subject or if I agree with it or not. It's just a great line.
Laurie

Actually, Diane, you will be happy to know that Beckham impressed me last night. Not by his play (which was not vintage Beckham) so much as his willingness to get his ankle numbed up for MLS the way he did for Real Madrid, and to see the game through for the full 120 even after it was clear he was hurting.

So he's up a notch in my estimation this morning.
Diane

True, at least there were no grid-lines. My family have refused to go to a Red Bulls match after they're repainted every august (I'm trying to convince them that the lines won't be moving to the new stadium).

Laurie, I did get the leadership thing, and fair enough, although I did think you would at least appreciate me finding the accurate spelling of kerfuffle ;-) . Great photos.
dave martinez

lol Laurie, it is perfectly fine! It is awesome that a fanbase would be so rabid as to stick up for its artificial turf! Good for Seattle - a very New York type e-mail indeed. ;)
Johnny

I'm jealous Laurie. Looks like you had fine seats.
Cool pics.

I kind of feel for him, but did Landon think his field goal would be worth 3 points?
Laurie

Wow. On behalf of Seattle, I apologize, Dave.

You can't pick your fellow fans any more than you can pick your family. :-(
dave martinez

Hey Laurie - I made the mistake of criticizing Seattles artificial pitch, and I actually have two emails and some comments from PISSED Seattle fans.

E-Mail #1:

"STFU you muppet! The Red Bulls are a joke that played on a concrete track field but not all fields are that tragic. Seattle has one of the best turfs ever! Fucking arrogant East Coast asshole!"

I stand corrected?! lol.
Laurie

Seriously, though, the world's press (and especially England's) would have given him all the credit if they'd won. Because as everyone knows, MLS is nothing without English influence. We're just balancing the scales a bit. :-)

(But he DID make his penalty. Unlike some. Ahem. :::Donovan cough cough:::)
Laurie

BTW, what happened to the whole kerfuffle about Donovan rightfully being the Galaxy’s leader and not Beckham — or is Beckham assigned leadership only when things don’t go well?

Um...duh. ;-)
Diane

BTW, what happened to the whole kerfuffle about Donovan rightfully being the Galaxy's leader and not Beckham -- or is Beckham assigned leadership only when things don't go well?

Fantastic atmosphere, enough to make me want to visit Seattle for a game alone -- that and Alan Gordon throwing fish.
Diane

Matthew, very few teams have a chance without a great goalie. I thought RSL were good enough not to have surprised with a win in regular time last night or in Chicago. They have cleverness, speed, stamina, and patience. They lacked the finish just as the other teams did in both games, but they looked very poised after the first half last night. I was pulling for the Galaxy, but give credit where it is due.
alex

landon, landon, landon, saunders saved his reputation tho but still should of put it away,

i knew buttle was going to miss that PK, his body language was terrible, he pointed his whole body, he showed the RSL keeper where he was going to shoot, I COULD OF STOPPED IT

even tho i follow the galaxy, i love it when an underdog shocks the world,
ryan

Huge improvement? seriously? This is the final game, it should be played on grass. When Barca and Chelsea visited Seattle, they had no problem laying down sod. The same should have been for this game.
laurie

Yeah. Because that real grass pitch in Houston for the Houston-Seattle game? The one with the sand traps? A huge improvement.
ryan

They should ban artificial turf. In a league that is struggling for quality, artificial turn worsened the lack of control. Half the through balls kept rolling into the parking lot across the street.
Dave Martinez

Rimando, at age 30, finally gets a modecum of success. And this is his second title!

UN DER RA TED! CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP UN DER RA TED!
laurie

I was at the game surrounded by RSL fans. Tremendous atmosphere, and well done to RSL!
Jose

Unbelievable. Salt Lake City!! This is Utah's first national title in pro sports history! What's great is just how well they dominated a lot of the game... and how big Rimando came up for us in the end, AGAIN!
laurie

El_horse, I couldn't figure out the MLS scoring summary either, so I just copied and pasted. :-)
Al

Congrats boys- I met a Mormon at the Coppa NYC this summer who loved RSL and, whereever you are, congrats. Finally- even in this silly single A equiv soccer, an underdog beats a giant. Congrats.
Dave Trotter

Congrats! Finally a team that I like wins with convroversy! All we need is Utah to beat BYU this weekend at it will be a great day in Salt Lake City.
Rob

Nice to see Beckham's penalty taking has got better [/disgruntled England fan]

Some of those penalties are disastrously bad by the way. And again, this comes from an England supporter.

Well done RSL though. What does this mean for the MLS in the bigger picture?
Matthew

Nick Rimando won the championship for RSL. Without him, they would have never had a chance. They would not have beaten Chicago or LA without him. The team did not have enough forward movement to win it in regular time so they relied on him twice to win it. Nick Rimando's name should go on the trophy, not RSL. Also, it is not Beckham's Galaxy. He is not the only player. He is not the owner or coach. It should be called Arena's Galaxy far before Becks is mentioned. I love him, but it is not his team.
toby

Beckham scored and Landycakes missed....

Ouch.

I'm sure he'll find someway to blame David for that one too.
Dave Martinez

I think I said Rimando would be big Laurie ;) Though my prediction was about as off as that Landon Donovan penalty shot. Ouch.

Congrats RSL - though I entered the game rooting for LA, I left it rooting for you.
el_horse

What's with the scoreline?

Wasn't it 1 all?

Why do la have 2 and rsl 3? and what exactly do they have? points?

Keep it simple lads, oh and only 1 assist per goal max :)
Cameron

46k strong at the game it was fun and exciting to watch as a neutral (with more interest in RSL) PK's were awesome! and Third Eye Blind before the game was not too shabby.