Soccer

Robbie Keane and LA Galaxy make MLS Cup final

Away goals triumph over Seattle Sounders sets up final day with New England Revolution

Robbie Keane hoists the Western Conference trophy after the Los Angeles Galaxy advanced to the MLS Cup final on away goals after losing 2-1 away to the Seattle Sounders. Photograph: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Robbie Keane hoists the Western Conference trophy after the Los Angeles Galaxy advanced to the MLS Cup final on away goals after losing 2-1 away to the Seattle Sounders. Photograph: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Mon Dec 01 2014 - 18:21

Robbie Keane’s LA Galaxy side reached the MLS Cup final on Sunday after a 2-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders put them through to the championship game on the away goals rule.

Galaxy, who progressed after a 2-2 draw on aggregate, will meet the New England Revolution in the final and will be looking for a record fifth MLS title at their own stadium on December 7th.

In freezing temperatures in Seattle, the Sounders, trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Los Angeles, opened the scoring in the 27th minute when a Clint Dempsey effort fell to Brad Evans, who slid the ball home from close range.

Five minutes later former Fulham striker Dempsey put Seattle 2-0 up with a shot that took a slight deflection and snuck under Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, who will be disappointed he failed to smother the ball.

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The artificial surface made it difficult for both sides to keep possession but there was no shortage of action or tension after the break.

Keane went close with a curling shot that Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei pushed wide, but LA got the decisive goal in the 54th minute when midfielder Juninho crashed home a first-time effort from 20 yards that went in off the post.

This is the first year that MLS has included the away goals rule in their play-offs, although that aspect would have been irrelevant if not for some fine work from Frei, who did well to keep out a Landon Donovan shot and a header from Stefan Ishizaki

Roared on by a 46,758 crowd, Seattle threw themselves into a series of late attacks but when their best chance fell to Dempsey, he volleyed wide.

The result means that Donovan, who has announced he will retire at the end of the season, has the perfect farewell opportunity with the title-decider at his home field.

“I’m excited and so proud of our guys,” the league’s all-time top scorer told ESPN.

“After a bad 10 minutes in the first half, what character to respond. We have been at Juninho to score all year and we deserved it.”

The Sounders, who had the league’s best regular season record, have been unable to reach an MLS Cup final in the six seasons they have been in the league.