Saturday December 1, 2012 MLS Cup Finished Home Depot Center
Los Angeles Galaxy 3 - 1 Houston Dynamo
- Gonzalez 60’
- Donovan 65’ (pen.)
- Keane 90’ (pen.)
- Carr 44’
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World Football - Beckham bids LA Galaxy farewell with MLS Cup win
David Beckham ended his LA Galaxy career in glory, collecting a second MLS Cup title with a 3-1 victory against Houston Dynamo. More
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Live Commentary
Time:90'- Los Angeles Galaxy
- Houston Dynamo
FT That’s it. Back-to-back MLS Cups for LA Galaxy. Dynamo took the lead against the run of play through Carr but the Galaxy came roaring back through Gonzalez and then a penalty each from Donovan and Keane to secure their second MLS Cup on the bounce. Stay here for the report.- 90+5 Beckham is brought off in the last minute of the game to a rapturous ovation and chants of “Thank you Beckham.” He is embraced by every member of the playing staff.
90+4 GOOOOAL!! Keane makes no mistake from the penalty spot. 3-1. That's his sixth goal in the post season.
90+3' Donovan earns a yellow for delaying the throw. Ching earns a free-kick from Stephens. The Dynamo play it short but Meyer clears. Magee lifts the ball over the top to Keane, who rounds Hall. The keeper hauls him down and the referee awards another penalty.- 90+2 Keane leads a breakaway but he is hauled down some thirty yards from goal. Beckham over it with two of the three minutes of stoppage time elapsed. Beckham switches it to Donovan, who earns a throw.
90' The corner from Davis is cleared by Saunders. The ball is worked back to Davis who clips the ball back in. Clark rises to head straight at Saunders.- 89' Gonzalez sticks out a leg to clear a Barnes cross to the far post. Corner.
- 88' Ching has Saunders scrambling across the goal. The veteran brought the ball down with his back to goal and with little pressure on the ball he turns before taking a touch to steady himself and then drags an effort just wide.
- 86' The Galaxy are very compact but they have sprung very quickly twice in succession and the Dynamo need to be wary of that as the game draws to a conclusion.
- 84' Magee almost finds Beckham at the far post but the Englishman just can’t get to the ball as it drifts out for a goal-kick.
- 82' Donovan intercepts in midfield and releases Keane, who runs at Boswell. The Irishman throws his hips this way and that before putting the defender on his backside but hits his effort straight at Hall.
- 80' Ching looks to find Bruin but the forward's movement is a bit lacklustre and a Galaxy foot clears.
- 79' Keane gets the ball in the channel, he waits for the overlapping run, ignores it and then fires a shot into the side-netting from just outside the box. Great effort.
- 78' Donovan lifts the ball over the top for Keane but there is too much on it.
- 76' Bruin gets in behind Gonzalez, he drops his shoulder, beats the defender before thrashing the ball across the box but with limited support Franklin clears at the far post.
75' Juninho leaves the action for Stephens to enter the fray. Ching, their all time leading scorer, comes on for Sarkodie. Dynamo, who have made all three switches, are now shaping up as 3-5-2.- 74' Ching warming up now.
- 74' Buddle on for Wilhelmsson, who has faded after a decent first half performance. Donovan to right midfield now.
- 73' Davis beginning to come in from the wing as the visitors look to prise open the Galaxy defence but not much doing there.
- 72' The 1500 strong Orange Army remain in good voice but they are staring at the prospect of a second MLS Cup defeat on the spin to the Galaxy.
- 71' Barnes for Moffat for the Dynamo.
- 70' The Dynamo have two corners in quick succession – Bruin steals in but can only head wide from close range.
- 69' That's Landon Donovan's 5th career MLS Cup goal - no one else has more than two.
- 68' That was a frenetic ten minutes or so.
- 66' The Dynamo go straight up the other end to win a corner but the Galaxy clear their lines.
- 65' GOOAL!! Donovan dispatches the penalty with aplomb. Clark with the handball on a Gonzalez effort that was on target. 2-1. What a turnaround.
- 63' Free-kick for a foul on Keane. Beckham clips it in and after a almighty scramble the referee points to the spot for a penalty.
62' That’s contentious. Gonzalez rises highest to head a Beckham corner back into the danger area. It is a fair leap but the referee blows as Keane thrashes the ball past Hall.- 61' The next five minutes you feel are key.
- 60' GOOOAL!!The Dynamo clear the corner, but it is worked to Juninho who slings it to the far post. Gonzalez gets up early to head the ball back across Hall to level things up. 1-1.
- 58' Franklin wins a free-kick for the hosts down the right. Beckham swings it over to Gonzalez but his header is blocked for corner.
57' Carr goes down injured following a challenge with Gonzalez - and it looks like he'll be replaced. Kandji on.- 55' Bruin makes a break in behind. He lifts the ball to the back post to Carr who just can’t generate the required power on the header. Rudimentary save from Saunders.
- 53' Juninho looks for Donovan in behind but Hall comes off his line to clear.
- 52' Outrageous pass from Beckham to Keane. Keane then turns Ashe inside out with some great feet and balance before drawing a save from Hall at the tightest of angles with Donovan lurking at the back post.
- 50' Wilhelmsson does well to get back and challenge Davis with the left-sided midfielder almost bearing down on goal.
48' Keane finishes with aplomb but the assistant referee’s flag is straight up. Right decision – Keane went a fraction too soon from a Meyer knockdown from a Beckham free-kick.- 47' No changes here.
46' Back underway in LA.- 45+1' That's it from the first half.
- 45' You have got to say that that is against the run of play.
- 44' GOOOAL!! Calen Carr bends his run to get in behind Meyler. He is clean through on Saunders and he remains composed to put the Dynamo in front. 0-1.
- 44' The hosts are finishing the half in the ascendancy but the movement or passing isn’t crisp enough. This time a clipped ball from Keane is behind Wilhelmsson.
- 42' Keane drops deep to see more of the ball but he is having little impact on the game. Magee slips the ball to Donovan but his cross is cut out.
- 40' Garcia finds Bruin in the box but the ball is behind him. The Galaxy break but Keane’s attempted return ball to Donovan is easily cut out.
- 37' Clark looks to get the ball in behind but there is too much on it.
- 35' Saunders again comes to collect a Davis corner but again flaps at it.
- 33' After a quick start, this game has really lulled.
- 32' LA Galaxy works the ball well down the left but under pressure from the hosts they have to go all the way back to Hall in goal. He launches long but the Galaxy deal with it easily.
- 31' It has gotten a little pedestrian out there at the moment.
- 30' Juninho is down and clutching his Achilles.
- 29' Wilhelmsson delays the pass to the overlapping Franklin and Ashe steps in to intercept a pretty poor pass. The Dynamo retain the ball well in midfield until Donovan is gifted the ball. The ball is worked to Keane, who looks to play in Magee but there is too much on it and Hall collects.
- 27' Sarkodie gets in behind Magee and he drives into the box at an angle. Sarkodie toe pokes an effort at Saunders from a tight-ish angle and the keeper has to push it over the bar.
- 26' Wilhelmsson has seen a lot of the ball but his pass is errant and Taylor steps in to bring the move to an end. Bruin is caught on his heels.
- 25' Dynamo fail to put any pressure on Juninho, whose effort, from outside the box, is well struck but never on target.
- 24' Davis again looks for Carr but Gonzalez gets his head to it. Saunders again looking a little unsure there and that’s something the Dynamo have looked to exploit a few times.
- 23' Keane runs over the ball but Boswell steps in to clear. The Dynamo work the ball left but Davis’ cross is too deep.
- 22' Wilhelmsson goes down in the box but the referee waves the appeals away.
- 21' Beckham has his first opportunity to cross from a set-piece situation. Magee heads down from three yards out but the header bounces up and over the bar. That is two sitters that the Galaxy have missed.
- 19' Beckham finds the marauding Franklin in behind but Davis is there to clear.
- 18' Carr meets a Davis cross first time on the edge of the box but it never threatens the goal of Saunders.
- 17' Wilhelmsson finds Keane, who then finds the Swede on the edge of the box but he delays the shot and the Dynamo break. Gonzalez has to be alert to clear a Carr cross following the quick break.
- 15' Davis, who was absent from last year’s final, is down injured but it looks like he’ll be okay to continue.
- 14' Keane is on the shoulder of Boswell. Beckham finds him in behind and the Irishman takes it down before squaring to Donovan and he somehow contrives to fire it wide from no more than six yards.
- 12' The Dynamo have a decent little passage of passing culminating in Juninho sliding in to deny Carr a shooting opportunity.
- 11' Donovan handles and the visitors have a free-kick.
- 10' Little bit scrappy out there at the moment.
- 9' Bruin is in behind and Saunders comes off his line to meet him on the edge of the box. He claims at the feet of the forward but his momentum carries him outside of the box – he does well to release the ball from his grasp and then hoofs it long.
- 8' Landon turns on the edge of the box but his effort is tame and Hall collects.
- 7' Franklin is almost in behind down the Houston left – that’s the second time they have looked to exploit that area.
- 6' Wilhelmsson looks to make a break in behind and Beckham almost finds him over the top but Hall is quick off his line to collect.
- 5' Dynamo have started in the ascendancy here.
- 4' The hosts give away a free-kick just inside their own half. Davis whips it in and Saunders flaps at it but gets away with it. The Dynamo keep the pressure on though as they return the ball and Saunders punches this time but he is looking shaky.
- 3' Donovan is adjudged to be offside as the Galaxy long to go from back to front quickly.
- 2' Robbie Keane immediately puts Hall under some pressure but the keeper goes long. Carr cuts inside and draws a smart save from Saunders.
1' The Dynamo get the game underway.- - The Galaxy finished the regular season as the fourth ranked team in the Western Conference then beat the Vancouver Whitecaps, San Jose Earthquakes and Seattle Sounders to qualify for the final. The Dynamo snuck into the play-offs having finished fifth in the Eastern Conference but beat Chicago Fire, Sporting Kansas City and D.C. United to line up against the Galaxy.
- 21:55 The teams are coming down the tunnel to much fanfare. Moments from kick-off.
- 21:50 LA Galaxy: (4-4-2) Saunders; Dunivant, Gonzalez, Meyer, Franklin, Magee, Juninho, Beckham, Wilhelmsson, Keane, Donovan. Subs: DeLagarza, Gaul, Noonan, Stephens, Sarvas, Perk, Buddle /// Houston Dynamo: (4-4-2) Hall; Ashe, Taylor, Boswell, Sarkodie, Moffat, Clark, Davis, Garcia, Bruin, Carr. Subs: Weaver, Ching, Hainault, Kandji, Camargo, Deric, Barnes.
- 21:45 Team news: The Galaxy are without defender Leonardo, who failed to recover from a knee injury, and midfielder Kyle Nakazawa, who has back spasms. That aside, Bruce Arena has a full squad to pick from. For the Dynamo, midfielder Ricardo Clark and striker Calen Carr both passed late fitness tests to start. Having missed last season’s finale through injury, Brad Davis starts as Dominic Kinnear has a pretty much full roster to choose from.
- 21:40 Beckham, the league’s first designated player, has announced his intention to seek a fresh challenge abroad while Donovan has been a little more coy about his future but has hinted at a possible extended break or even an early retirement at the age of 30.
- 21:35 The flagship game of the MLS calendar marks the end of the season, but there are two interesting asides for the Galaxy in the shape of the futures of David Beckham and Landon Donovan.
- 21:30 The game pits two of the most successful MLS sides against one another - of the last eight MLS Cup Finals, the Galaxy or Dynamo have played in six.
- 21:25 Landon Donovan scored the only goal of last season’s MLS CUP Final and was named the MLS Cup MVP in front of a crowd of 30,281. The omens are not good for the Dynamo: Houston's last win against the Galaxy at the Home Depot Centre came in the shape of a 3-1 win back in 2007.
- 21:20 The game is, of course, a rematch of last year’s final where the Galaxy prevailed 1-0.
- 21:15 Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Los Angeles Galaxy against Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup at the Home Depot Center. Kick-off time is 10pm GMT.
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Summary
- 90+4 GOOOOAL!! Keane makes no mistake from the penalty spot. 3-1. That's his sixth goal in the post season.
- 90+3' Donovan earns a yellow for delaying the throw. Ching earns a free-kick from Stephens. The Dynamo play it short but Meyer clears. Magee lifts the ball over the top to Keane, who rounds Hall. The keeper hauls him down and the referee awards another penalty.
- 90' The corner from Davis is cleared by Saunders. The ball is worked back to Davis who clips the ball back in. Clark rises to head straight at Saunders.
- 88' Ching has Saunders scrambling across the goal. The veteran brought the ball down with his back to goal and with little pressure on the ball he turns before taking a touch to steady himself and then drags an effort just wide.
- 82' Donovan intercepts in midfield and releases Keane, who runs at Boswell. The Irishman throws his hips this way and that before putting the defender on his backside but hits his effort straight at Hall.
- 79' Keane gets the ball in the channel, he waits for the overlapping run, ignores it and then fires a shot into the side-netting from just outside the box. Great effort.
- 70' The Dynamo have two corners in quick succession – Bruin steals in but can only head wide from close range.
- 69' That's Landon Donovan's 5th career MLS Cup goal - no one else has more than two.
- 65' GOOAL!! Donovan dispatches the penalty with aplomb. Clark with the handball on a Gonzalez effort that was on target. 2-1. What a turnaround.
- 63' Free-kick for a foul on Keane. Beckham clips it in and after a almighty scramble the referee points to the spot for a penalty.
- 62' That’s contentious. Gonzalez rises highest to head a Beckham corner back into the danger area. It is a fair leap but the referee blows as Keane thrashes the ball past Hall.
- 60' GOOOAL!!The Dynamo clear the corner, but it is worked to Juninho who slings it to the far post. Gonzalez gets up early to head the ball back across Hall to level things up. 1-1.
- 52' Outrageous pass from Beckham to Keane. Keane then turns Ashe inside out with some great feet and balance before drawing a save from Hall at the tightest of angles with Donovan lurking at the back post.
- 44' GOOOAL!! Calen Carr bends his run to get in behind Meyler. He is clean through on Saunders and he remains composed to put the Dynamo in front. 0-1.
- 40' Garcia finds Bruin in the box but the ball is behind him. The Galaxy break but Keane’s attempted return ball to Donovan is easily cut out.
- 29' Wilhelmsson delays the pass to the overlapping Franklin and Ashe steps in to intercept a pretty poor pass. The Dynamo retain the ball well in midfield until Donovan is gifted the ball. The ball is worked to Keane, who looks to play in Magee but there is too much on it and Hall collects.
- 27' Sarkodie gets in behind Magee and he drives into the box at an angle. Sarkodie toe pokes an effort at Saunders from a tight-ish angle and the keeper has to push it over the bar.
- 21' Beckham has his first opportunity to cross from a set-piece situation. Magee heads down from three yards out but the header bounces up and over the bar. That is two sitters that the Galaxy have missed.
- 17' Wilhelmsson finds Keane, who then finds the Swede on the edge of the box but he delays the shot and the Dynamo break. Gonzalez has to be alert to clear a Carr cross following the quick break.
- 14' Keane is on the shoulder of Boswell. Beckham finds him in behind and the Irishman takes it down before squaring to Donovan and he somehow contrives to fire it wide from no more than six yards.
- 9' Bruin is in behind and Saunders comes off his line to meet him on the edge of the box. He claims at the feet of the forward but his momentum carries him outside of the box – he does well to release the ball from his grasp and then hoofs it long.
- 8' Landon turns on the edge of the box but his effort is tame and Hall collects.
- 6' Wilhelmsson looks to make a break in behind and Beckham almost finds him over the top but Hall is quick off his line to collect.
- 2' Robbie Keane immediately puts Hall under some pressure but the keeper goes long. Carr cuts inside and draws a smart save from Saunders.
- 21:50 LA Galaxy: (4-4-2) Saunders; Dunivant, Gonzalez, Meyer, Franklin, Magee, Juninho, Beckham, Wilhelmsson, Keane, Donovan. Subs: DeLagarza, Gaul, Noonan, Stephens, Sarvas, Perk, Buddle /// Houston Dynamo: (4-4-2) Hall; Ashe, Taylor, Boswell, Sarkodie, Moffat, Clark, Davis, Garcia, Bruin, Carr. Subs: Weaver, Ching, Hainault, Kandji, Camargo, Deric, Barnes.
Team Line-up & Ratings
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Perhaps he will come to Arsenal will fit in well looking at their form.
well..at least the past 10 minutes were pretty exciting..maybe i commented too soon
Great to see this in MLS, full stadium and crowd is loud too
Kevin..you are so right ..I watched brilliance in the Barxa game today and great teamwork...I watched a bunch of thugs and cry babies in the REAL/Atletica game, but it was entertaining at least..this game is BORING!!
ummm
Half decent player in his day, which was a right few years ago now. Not sure I comprehend the fixation some folk with his every move.
Has it be reported where Beckham will go next? Just curious.
Beckham, brilliant player, so many people jealous of his carrer and his wife, why dont you sad people get a life. We love our English god....what do you moaners have...nothing...
Beckham for England manager, SOON, he knows the modern game and how to play it. Come on the FA make him an offer he can't refuse
who cares
@10 He did, many times... They even threatened to sue the papers over the allegations, but they never did.............
Err is their a point to this story and match updates. He sold his career down the swanny when his stupid "brand" of a missus took over his career..... Hype is wasted over him, wasnt even anywhere near the best player to come form his generation at Man UTD. Decent player, but couldnt tackle, head a ball, run at defenders, dribble with the ball or get past players.........
I always detested the Star Trek series, as it carried a Yankee political message, but the more pictures I see of David Beckham, the more he looks like old Spock. Perhaps if, god forbid, another Trek series is made, then the producers will only need to add a couple of ear extensions on Beckham in order to either resurrect Spock or create his son...or grandson.
hope Beckham scores
@6. English pundits have no say in all the other countless countries that show the EPL. Sure there are many other leagues that get broadcast such as la liga, seria a and the Bundesliga, but the EPL is up there amongst the best.
have a good un becks :)
Beckham 4 life
You'll find global domestic football is entertaining as any. Just english pundits try and force feed you the EPL.
