MLS Cup 2009-Live Thoughts

I'm not sure how much I'll actually do (I want to watch the game!) but I'm going to try and throw up some thoughts as the game goes on...

9th minute-Defense looking a bit shaky. Donovan gets the ball in the box but is too slow with it. Play develops into a pretty clear header for Buddle, luckily put wide.

11th-Javi wastes a free kick straight on about 45 yds out, puts it directly over the end line.

12th-Beckham has the worst hairdo ever. Worse than a mullet. Gonna call it "the douchecut" as it is, indeed, quite douchy.

17th-Javi looks hurt after Beckham chops his legs out from under him. Announcer says "I didn't see a foul there." Makes me think that if you're going to commentate a game you should probably actually watch the game.

19th-Sounds like a knee injury for Javi, but he's going to come back on, at least for a while.

20th-Yura beats his man and then finds a new creative way to blow it by falling down. Javi about done, Cleetus going to come on for him.

22nd-Javi crying as he comes off, my wife feels really bad for him (understandably so). She thinks it sucks for him that he has to go out once he makes it all the way to the final.

25th-Findley wide open run, but called offside. Looked very borderline, looks like the AR are calling this (too) conservatively.

28th-Terrible corner call for LA. Looks like they're going to get all the calls, as, sadly, expected.

30th-Neither team showing much in the attack, basically back and forth in the midfield so far.

32nd-Andy with a long shot, misses quite wide, but at least he's going for goal.

34th-RSL losing basically every header, that could become an issue sooner rather than later.

36th-Terrible transition defense by RSL, Magee misses an open shot JUST wide.

37th-RSL has been trying to push forward but looks totally impotent in the final 3rd. Not even getting chances, too many turnovers.

41st-RSL's terrible defending finally kills them. Open Beckham to open Donovan to open Magee, goal.

42nd-RSL looks done. This looks like RSL defense circa 2005.

44th-Salt Lake obviously missing Javi, team looking lost in the final third.

45th +-Borchers gets a head to it but right to Ricketts.

45th +2-Yura forced to rush a shot in the box, puts it 40 feet high. Hate to say it, especially since he's scored some clutch goals in his day, but I will not miss him and his absolutely atrocious finishing.

Halftime-Defense, especially the outside backs, looks terrible. Midfield forcing too much and turning it over way too much. LA sitting back and waiting for the counter and RSL can't break it. Kreis being outcoached and the team sorely misses Javi. Both forwards look pretty useless, especially Yura, who has provided nothing positive. This is going to take an even better effort than we saw after going down 2-0 at Columbus. With Javi hurt and WillJ sick, I'm not sure RSL's got it in the tank...

46th-Will-J must be too sick to go on, Grabavoy on for him at half. 1 sub left-yikes!

47th-Findley breaks free, bad touch and unable to get onto it well. Robbie, Ricketts, and Omar Gonzalez collide. Robbie and Ricketts hurt.

52nd-Finally back to action, everyone still in.

54th-Getting chippy. Hope the Findley play wasn't the best look RSL is going to get.

58th-Free kick LA, just outside the box just off center. Douchecut Dave to take it. Hits the wall.

60th-Yura takes too long to shoot, possible PK, somehow a call on RSL. Ref's paycheck obviously written in LA.

62nd-RSL player literally thrown to the ground. No card from referee LA Joe. Apparently armed robbery is the only way the Gals will get a card.

64th-Scramble in the box, ball falls to Robbie Findley, goal RSL. Hell yes! Back in this!

66th-Ricketts' hurt hand comes back to get him, he's subbed out.

69th-Momentum with RSL right now. Need to capitalize while we can.

71st-Beckerman is a man among boys out there. Starts an RSL break, Ned with a beautiful ball to Yura who again blows it, this time with a shot about 20 feet high. Damn...

74th-Russell with a turnover reminiscent of the Columbus game. This time he recovers and shoves Landycakes off the ball.

75th-RSL takes Yura out for the last time, Espi in. I hate to see the last sub already, but Yura was worse than awful tonight.

80th-Former Red Chris Klein in for the Gals.

85th-RSL leaving Douchecut Dave wide open. LA pushing for the game winner.

87th-Game opening up, if there's as much injury time as there should be, we could have a game winner in regulation. Gonzalez hurt now...

90th-7 minutes of injury time. Espi playing terribly, puts a cross into the side netting.

90+7th-Andy Williams slips in the box and a golden chance goes unused.

End of Regulation-RSL a different team in the 2nd half. This one could go either way, but LA having a sub left works in their favor. Unfortunately, recent history suggests LA wins this, having put 2 on Houston in overtime in the Western Conference Final, while RSL could only go 0-0. PKs have to favor any team with Nick Rimando in net, so if we get there I like our chances.

98th-Findley a heartbreaker into the side netting.

101st-Mathis with a free kick just outside the box, again into the side netting. RSL having the better of it, but nothing to show for it. RSL wasting too many attacks with long shots.

Extra Time Halftime-RSL wasting too many chances. Mathis with a nice look a few seconds ago but put it right into the one defender, LA with a counter attack but the defense (barely) holds. RSL needs to put one of these away, even with Rimando in goal, it's not a positive to face the likes of Donovan and Beckham in PKs.

107th-Espi open in the box decides to pass not shoot. SHOOT THE DAMN BALL!

110th-RSL finally gets a call. Foul on Klein trying to win a header over Wingert in the RSL box.

120th-1 minute injury time...

120+1-Clint with a gorgeous ball to Andy wide open in front of goal, but his legs refuse to work and the chance goes begging. Andy collapses on the field in disgust, he's exhausted. And off to PKs we go!

End of play-RSL facing a backup keeper but LA has Donovan, Beckham, Klein, etc. Anyone's game, but you like our chances.

PKs-Beckham limping but totally sends Nick the wrong way. Goal.
Mathis nails it. 1-1.
Berhalter?! Inside side netting. Perfect shot. 2-1.
Findley up, big time pressure. Left upper 90. Gorgeous. 2-2.
Kirovski now. Rimando time? Yes, indeedy! 2-2.
Kyle right to Saunders. Craptastic. Still 2-2.
Landycakes, you know he'll score. OH MY GOD, LANDON OVER THE BAR! HOLY SHITBALLS! 2-2.
Grabbing-boys bottom corner. 3-2 RSL!
Magee HAS to score... And does... 3-3.
Andy Williams FTW. This will be super sweet if he wins it... Poor shot, weakly dribbled to Saunders. 3-3.
Klein scores. 4-3 LA.
Wingert our last chance... Passes into the back of the net. 4-4.
Edson Buddle, can Nick take him? Yes! 4-4.
Now Robbie Russell to win. Knock on wood! YES! RSL IS YOUR MLS CHAMPION!!!