LA Galaxy 2 New England Revolution 1 (AET)
It wasn't his best performance but Robbie Keane continued to cement his name in MLS soccer history with an extra-time winner in Sunday night's cup final.
He could have had one or two more, missing chances in both normal and extra-time, although when presented with a one-on-one match winning opportunity, a calm finish and subsequent cartwheel celebration was always the likely outcome.
For him, he not only added an MLS Cup to his season's lot, but he was also named as the MLS Cup's Most Valuable Player award after the game, to go with his MVP league award.
“It doesn’t get much better than that” he said.
Young Galaxy star
With all the focus on local hero Landon Donovan and newly crowned league MVP Robbie Keane, it was young Galaxy striker Gyasi Zardes who almost grabbed the headlines as his second-half goal looked to have been enough to to win the club's fifth MLS Cup.
Although with 10 minutes remaining, and somewhat out of nothing, New Englan Revolution’s longest-serving player Chris Tierney grabbed a scrappy equaliser and the game went to extra-time.
Of course, it could have been all over well before then if the league’s Most Valuable Player and 19-time goalscorer this season, had added a seaon’s 15th assist by squaring his one-on-one to Donovan.
On 69 minutes he was put thorugh with just one defender to beat, a clever nutmeg then easing him through on goal, yet after losing his balance he opted to poke an effort goalwards rather than find Donovan - much to the disgust of teammates.
Donovan, not only the poster boy of the MLS, but the 32-year-oldAmerican forward was playing his last ever game, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious career. His nation’s and the league’s all-time leading goalscorer was in pursuit of a record sixth MLS Cup.
Extra-time
With both teams looking leggy going into the extra time period, epitomised by a late challenge which earned Keane a booking, it was in fact the Revolution who were creating the most concrete of chances.
But when Keane was put through on goal after 111 minutes he made no mistake and so the fairytale was complete for Donovan.
