Real Salt Lake beat Los Angeles Galaxy 1-1 (5-4 on penalties) to win MLS Cup 2009 – Recap and Video Highlights

The 2009 Major League Soccer Cup featured the Los Angeles Galaxy v Real Salt Lake at Qwest Field in Seattle. The match took place on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Who won the MLS Cup and what happened in the match? Here’s a recap and video highlights of the match.

Real Salt Lake beat Los Angeles Galaxy 1-1 (5-4 on penalties) – Video Highlights

1st Half

The match started out lots of energy as there were over 40,000 in attendance to create a terrific atmosphere. It was fairly even at the start as neither team had any great chances in the first ten minutes. The match started to pick up around the 11th minute as both defenses would be tested.

While Real Salt Lake had some chances, the Galaxy had most the possession and were the better team through the first 20 minutes. RSL would have some adversity as Javier Morales picked up an injury and had to leave the match. Clint Mathis came in for Morales who injured his knee during a challenge with David Beckham for the ball.

Real Salt Lake struggled to hold possession as almost all the play early was in their own half. Overall, the game had a slow start as there wasn’t a shot on goal until the 25th minute. The Galaxy had a great chance in the 36th minute as they caught RSL on a counterattack. Donovan sent a pass to Mike Magee who had space on the left wing inside the box and took a low shot that just went wide.

LA Galaxy manager made a tactical change of moving Donovan from the left wing to a central location which made an immediate impact on the match. In the 41st minute, the change would pay off with the Galaxy’s first goal of the match. In the attack, Beckham sent a ball out wide for Donovan who had lots of space. The American had plenty of options but chose to send a cross to the far post where Mike Magee was unmarked. Magee calmly directed the cross into the back to give his team the lead.

It was a great play from Donovan and well deserved for the Galaxy. They were clearly the better team in the first half and created several chances. RSL failed to keep up in the first half and rarely tested LA goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. The first half ended at 1-0 for the Galaxy who were well on their way to winning the 2009 MLS Cup.

2nd Half

RSL came out much stronger in the second half as the got a great chance earlier. Robbie Findley got behind the defense and had a chance on goal but Donovan Ricketts came out to make the save. During the play, Ricketts collided with Findley and teammate Omar Gonzalez. Play was temporarily halted while Ricketts was getting medical treatment for a hand injury. He would stay in the match despite the injury.

RSL would continue to have chances and almost tied it up in the 58th minute. Some great passing led to a chance for Movsisyan but the defense recovered at the last second. He was taken down in the box and close to being called a penalty. The chances for RSL would lead to the equalizer in the 63rd minute as Movsisyan had a shot that deflected to Findley who put it past Ricketts. It was a deserved goal for RSL who played much better in the second half. It was now 1-1 with about 30 minutes left in the match. Ricketts was taken out after the goal due to the hand injury and Saunders was brought in to replace him.

The Galaxy defense, which played well in the first half, was struggling to keep up with the pace of RSL in the second half. The match would remain tied at 1-1 going into the final minutes. The momentum shifted in the match several times in the second half. RSL came out with it which led to their goal but the Galaxy had the momentum late in the second half. Omar Gonzalez had an injury late in the second half for the Galaxy and was replaced by AJ DeLaGarza.

The final minutes were very open as RSL to create chances while the Galaxy relied on Donovan and Beckham. Because of the lengthy time for injuries in the second half, there were seven minutes of stoppage time. Neither team would score in stoppage time as it would go to extra time (two 15 minute halfs) and penalty kicks if still tied after that.

1st Extra Time

RSL had the first great chance in the 94th minute as the Galaxy as Findley had a shot in the box but DeLaGarza made a diving block at the last second. The defending from the Galaxy was frantic at times and had to scramble to clear the ball. Robbie Findley again almost scored as he had a shot that hit the side netting. The majority of possession was with RSL in the first extra time as they dominated play and had virtually all the chances. RSL couldn’t capitalize on their chances and it was still 1-1 after 105 minutes of play.

2nd Extra Time

Fatigue started to show in the second session of extra time as the pace slowed down dramatically. Beckham, who had injured his ankle in a previous match, was noticably limping but had to stay in the match because LA had already used their three substitutes. The play was wide open as one team would attack which would lead to the other team getting a chance on the counterattack. The match would head into penalty kicks with no goals in either of the extra time halves.

Penalty Kicks

The Galaxy would start first in the penalty kicks with David Beckham starting it off. He converted with a shot to the low left corner as RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando guessed right. Clint Mathis was next for RSL and easily converted down the middle as Saunders guessed right. Gregg Berhalter was next for the Galaxy as he converted with a great shot to the right past a diving Rimando who guessed right. Robbie Findley was next for RSL and he converted confidently with a shot to the upper left corner.

It was now 2-2 heading into the third round. Kirovski was next for the Galaxy as Rimando guessed right and made the save. Kyle Beckerman was next with a chance to put RSL ahead but Josh Saunders guessed right and made a fantastic diving save. It was still 2-2 heading into the fourth round. Landon Donovan was next for the Galaxy and missed the shot high. Grabavoy converted for RSL to give them a 3-2 lead heading into the final round.

Mike Magee had to convert for the Galaxy to keep them in it and he did with a good shot to the upper left corner. It was now 3-3 with Andy Williams of RSL having the chance to win it for his club. He went for a low shot down the middle and Saunders made the save. It was now 3-3 heading into the sixth round of penalties. Chris Klein converted for the Galaxy to give them a 4-3 lead and RSL having to convert to stay alive.

Chris Wingert was now up for RSL and stepped up with the game on his foot. He converted with a low shot to the right corner as Saunders guessed to the left side. It would go into the seventh round with Edson Buddle for the Galaxy. He hit a shot to the right side and Rimando guessed right to give RSL a chance to win. It was 4-4 and if RSL converted they would win the 2009 MLS Cup. Robbie Russell stepped up and converted with a low shot to the left corner and Real Salt Lake were the 2009 Major League Soccer Champions.

It was a hard fought match and improbable run by Real Salt Lake who almost nobody had picked to win when the playoffs started. The LA Galaxy will be disappointed to lose in which they had a lead and chances in penalty kicks.

Referee: Kevin Stott
Referee’s Assistants: C.J. Morgante; Rob Fereday
4th Official: Baldomero Toledo
Time of Game: 120:00
Weather: Cloudy -and- 45 degrees
Attendance: 46,011