Revolution Fall 2-1 To Galaxy In MLS Cup Final

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Monday, December 08, 2014

Matt LaPan, Go Local Sports Reporter

MLS Cup. The grandest of all stages for MLS. The New England Revolution took to Los Angeles to take on the Galaxy. The Revs were in search of the first MLS Cup championship in team history, while the Galaxy were looking to make it three of four and send their Superstar Landon Donovan into retirement with another championship. The game was as exciting as anyone could ask for, going into extra time. Yet in the end the Galaxy were able to find a goal from MLS MVP Robbie Keane to lift them to a championship 2-1 over the Revolution.

Living up to the hype

The Galaxy got action started when Robbie Rodgers nearly gave the home team a lead in the 2nd minute. Rodgers got a good feed from Landon Donovan before breaking across the box in front of Bobby Shuttleworth. Rodgers snuck a shot behind Shuttleworth but Scott Caldwell cleared the ball off the line just before it crossed. Caldwell saved a sure goal and kept the score level at 0-0.

The Revs got their first attacking chance in the 8th minute off the foot of Jermaine Jones. Both Jones and Lee Nguyen played the ball before Jones found a bit of space and let off a left-footed shot from about 25 yards out. Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo made the easy save to keep the game 0-0.

The Galaxy got the next sustained attack when Robbie Keane let off a blast in the 21st minute. Keane found an opening before delivering a powerful shot, but Shuttleworth was in position to make the easy save. The Galaxy stayed on the attack when Landon Donovan and Gyasi Zardes had a two-on-one against Teal Bunbury. Zardes played Donovan who attempted to play Zardes right back, on the foot of the goal. Andrew Farrell, however, made a terrific recovery play to knock the ball free.

The Revs tried to mount a counter-attack in the 23rd minute, but the Galaxy defense made a fantastic play to stop the attack. Charlie Davies was lobbed the ball and had a step on A.J. DeLaGarza. Davies took a touch then attempted a shot but DeLaGarza made a perfectly timed tackle to keep the shot free from any threat.

Neither team was able to amount another attack for the remainder of the half, making the score 0-0 at halftime. Jay Heaps made a tactical change at half, switching Teal Bunbury and Kelyn Rowe in the midfield.

Second half fireworks

The Galaxy finally broke the scoreless tie in the 52nd minute off the foot of Gyasi Zardes. Zardes was delivered a great ball from from Stefan Ishizaki, which was deflected by Chris Tierney. The ball found its way to Zardes with Andrew Farrell in position. Zardes made a move to shed Farrell then put the ball past Shuttleworth in the far corner to give the Galaxy a 1-0 lead.

The Revolution had their first chance for a good attack in the 2nd half during the 67th minute. Teal Bunbury was delivered a ball as he tried to beat the defense, and even got a hear on it. The problem for the Revs was that Penedo saw the play unfolding and punched the ball free before there was any chance of a score.

The Galaxy came back down the field on the counter attack in the 70th minute and nearly found a goal from Robbie Keane, but Shuttleworth made a huge save to keep the game 1-0. Keane beat Jose Conclaves before going into the box. Conclaves recovered to alter the shot but Shuttleworth still had to make a terrific save.

The Revs were unable to get a sustained attack, but in the 79th minute the Revs got the one they needed. The ball was lobbed forward where, substitute, Patrick Mullins was able to gain possession and deliver a ball to Chris Tierney in the box. Tierney took a touch and pushed it past Penedo to bring the game level at 1-1. The score silenced the rowdy LA crowd after Tierney netted his 2nd playoff goal after scoring just one in the regular season.

"Just a great ball into the channel," Tierney said when asked about what he saw on the play. "Mullins, I think, was really a handful when he came on. He did a great job chasing [the ball] down, gave a great lay back, and I just tried to take a touch and slide it."

The Revs nearly pulled ahead in the 85th minute on a Teal Bunbury shot. Bunbury gained possession outside the box and nearly curled the shot in but it hit off the crossbar. The ball was cleared but the Revs clearly had new life. 

“I wish it would’ve gone in,” Bunbury said when asked about the play. “It was that close.” With both teams trading weak chances throughout the rest of regulation, the game went to extra time tied 1-1. 

Extra Time

The first good chance of extra time came in the 103th minute. The Revs again lobbed the ball forward and the fresh legs of Patrick Mullins worked. Mullins got in and ripped a shot from the left side but Penedo made a great diving save to eliminate the chance and keep the score 1-1. That shot was the only chance for either team in the first half of extra time. 

The Galaxy took the lead back from the Revs in the 111th minute, and it came from MLS MVP Robbie Keane. Keane got behind the Revs defense and was lobbed a beautiful pass by Marcelo Sarvas. He made one move then put one by Bobby Shuttleworth to give his team the 2-1 lead in the later part of extra time.

The Revs got a good look just minutes later when Patrick Mullins got free in space, but the shot was easily saved by Penedo. The Revs were unable to muster any more offense and the Galaxy walked away with a thrilling 2-1 win to take home their 3rd MLS Cup in four years.

“I thought we played well,” Teal Bunbury said following the game. “I think we matched up great against them. We maybe didn’t have as many counter attacks, but I thought we possessed the ball quite a bit. We had great movement and I feel like we were able to capitalize on some chances and keep the ball going.

“But, Robbie Keane. MVP, a legend, a class player. He’ll do that to you”

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