And so it was decided.
The 18th MLS Cup Final took place on Saturday to close out the 2013 season – 323 regular season matches and 14 playoff matches all lead to this moment, but who would take how the silverware.
The story lines heading into the match were many: two former MLS players-turned-coach leading their teams, each with a Cup already under their belts – Peter Vermes as a player with Kansas City in 2000 and Jason Kreis as a manager with Salt Lake in 2009; each club was looking for its second trophy; two small-market teams in the final, two of the better run organizations with definitive an entertaining styles on display.
Would this be the end of an era in Salt Lake as rumours swirled around the futures of the Kreis-Garth Lagerway brain-trust, would this be their last match as a duo with the club?
The success story that is the rebranding of the former Kansas City Wizards, evolving from a tiny, odd baseball stadium to luxurious Sporting Park in three years.
Before the results…[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
N o goal of the round this time, they were mere standard fare, but how about the pass from Kyle Beckerman to set up Salt Lake.
No look, first timer, wow!
The Match
Much of the pre-match tactical chatter revolved around Salt Lake choice at centre-forward, but a foot-injury to Devon Sandoval ended that debate as Alvaro Saborio returned to the starting lineup.
For Kansas City, Vermes held to his morals, and designated player, Claudio Bieler, was on the bench to start.
It was a very cold afternoon – the coldest in MLS history, but a packed house showed little sign of being muted by the weather.
The action started out briskly with Chris Wingert colliding with CJ Sapong from behind – recalling shades of his controversial early hit on Kei Kamara in their last meeting.
The first chance came after four minutes, when Graham Zusi sprang onto a long pass down the left, pulled up and hit a cross for Paulo Nagamura, but he could not keep his redirect on target.
Then misfortune struck leading to an early substitution for Kansas City, who had his ankle stepped on by Robbie Findley and was forced off, to be replaced by Lawrence Olum after just eight minutes.
The home side redoubled their efforts with a series of free-kicks, one of which saw Dom Dwyer attempt a bicycle, smashing the frozen ball into the frozen beak of Nat Borchers - ouch.
The field conditions were playing havoc with the progression – several players lost their footing, while others sought some early treatment for hard falls or slight knocks.
Zusi, fielded on the left rather than the right, was causing all sorts of problems, skipping a bouncer to the near-post, before picking out Sapong at the right-post for a flicked downward header that was pushed wide by Nick Rimando in the 25th minute.
Four minutes later it was Salt Lake knocking on the door when a Wingert free-kick was punched straight up in the air by Jimmy Nielsen and fell to Findley – eerily similar to the situation that led to his goal in their earlier meeting – only for his attempt to hit the post and fall kindly back to the net-minder for safe keeping.
Another misstep by the KC defense nearly led to an opener in the 36th when Aurelien Collin inexplicably raced back to the goal-line, playing three attackers onside from a Javier Morales free-kick. Morales read the situation and chipped his service in, but Saborio’s poor connection sent a header sailing woefully off target.
The first half had one more major incident, a flare up between Saborio and Benny Feilhaber, who tussled over a ball with the former knocking over the latter, and Feilhaber kicking out as he tumbled, prompting further contact that was dramatically embellished by Benny and resulted in a booking for the Salt Lake forward.
Sporting would pass on two more half-chances before the first half whistle blew: the first when Zusi whistled a free-kick wide and the second three minutes into stoppage-time when Matt Besler’s lovely pass played in Dom Dwyer, but his poor first touch allowed an alert Rimando to intervene off his line.
Upon resumption, Kansas City again had two solid looks, from a Besler long throw and Sapong sighter that sailed over the bar.
Seven minutes in Salt Lake would finally break the ice: a Luis Gil pass was cut out by Collin, but fell straight to Beckerman for a no-look chipped pass straight down the middle into the space Collin had so recently vacated. Saborio touched it to the right with his chest, side-stepping Besler and making space for himself and beat Nielsen with a right-footer low to the short side – it was Salt Lake’s first ever goal at Sporting Park – in their third match at the ground.
Salt Lake nearly doubled their advantage on the hour mark, when Beckerman found space for a shot, but could only strike the post.
Then a dutiful, if unnecessary bit of defensive play from Wingert – Chance Myers was offside – cleared away a Sapong squared ball from danger. Wingert, who entered nursing a shoulder concern, would land forcefully on the frozen ground and be forced on shortly thereafter.
Each side would make a change in the 72nd – Wingert replaced by Lovel Palmer and Dwyer making way for Bieler, as the home side was in desperate need of an equalizer with the clock ticking downwards.
But it was Salt Lake again who threatened a minute later, when Findley’s charging run centered the ball to Morales, who once more struck the post, this time improbably caroming off the inside, but miraculously spinning away from danger.
Kansas City would find their goal in the 76th: Nagamura won a corner kick after crashing the post for a Myers ball and Collin rose over Schuler on the right-sided delivery from Zusi to power a header to the bottom left-corner of the goal.
They would nearly win it three minutes later, but Bieler’s first look rose over the bar after Zusi played out to Seth Sinovic and he squared for the still warming striker.
The first half was a little uneventful, but the drama in the second more than made up for that shortcoming – neither side would find a winner in regulation and extra time loomed large.
After the briefest of pauses, play resumed and Salt Lake had the ball in the back of the net within a minute, though the offside flag was clearly raised to deny Findley. Nagamura drifted a shot wide from range, before Zusi sent a snap shot that Rimando had to track carefully and push over the bar with a stern fist.
Sapong sent a rasper over from a Bieler knock down and then got on the end of a brilliant Feilhaber pass, but was muscled down by Schuler, prompting some to call for a penalty that was neither forthcoming, nor warranted.
Another big call – correctly made – from the officials came in the final minute of the first half of extra time when Saborio’s header beat Nielsen, but he had drifted offside ahead of Findley’s cross.
Neither side could find advantage in the final fifteen minutes, preferring cautious attempts to risky excursions.
Joao Plata replaced Findley, Schuler made another key intervention and Saborio attempted a hopeful lofter that had some home-hearts leaping into mouths in the last-minute, bar one.
Then the final whistle blew, huddles were held, and in short order it was on to penalty kicks to decide a winner.
With a cheat-sheet of notes in hand, Nielsen headed to the Cauldron End – KC would take the first penalty, early advantage to the home side.
Bieler stepped up to take, blasting a right-footer high to Rimando’s right, after sending the keeper the other way with a confident, well-taken spot kick. Saborio, Salt Lake’s goal-scorer, looked to respond in kind, but curled his right-footed attempt over as Nielsen scrambled to his left.
Nagamura was up next for KC, he confidently tucked his right-footer to the keeper’s left having given Rimando the eyes. Ned Grabavoy needed to pull Salt Lake back into the contest, but his right-footer was tracked all the way by Nielsen, covering his right, to save and give his side an near insurmountable two-goal advantage.
Besler was next for the home side, taking left-footed, but his short-run up was read perfectly by Rimando, who saved to his left. Salt Lake Captain Beckerman would finally open his side’s account, hammering a right-footer straight down the middle having sent Nielsen to his left.
Feilhaber took Sporting’s fourth, rocketing his right-footer high down the centre - Rimando would get his hands to it, but could not keep it out. Plata, the late substitute brought on for his proficiency from the spot, calmly right-footed a beauty high to the keeper’s right after a diagonal run-up, no way Nielsen was reaching that.
With KC’s advantage clawed back to 3-2, their fifth taker, Zusi, strode towards the box knowing that another goal would win it, but his right-footer curled agonizingly over, nearly identical to Saborio’s miss. The pressure then passed to Morales, who needed to score to extend the shootout, which he calmly did with a cheeky-cool, stuttered run and right-footed finish, before giving Nielsen an earful as the Sporting keeper complained about an illegal run-up.
On to additional kicks with the ledger equal at threes.
Sinovic opened up his body to send his left-footer to the keeper’s right, having sent Rimando guessing hopelessly the other way. Then Schuler responded with a left-footer of his own, straight down the middle with power as Nielsen scrambled to his left.
Sapong started the seventh round of kicks, confidently right-footing his effort low to the keeper’s right, freezing Rimando in the process, but Tony Beltran squeaked a right-footer of his own in off the base of the post as Nielsen dove to his right and nearly got a hand to it.
Olum was up next, mimicking Beltran’s placement, but getting it all wrong, helplessly watching his right-footer bound wide of the post to the keeper’s right. So the chance to win it all fell to Sebastian Velasquez, who could not keep his composure and saw his left-footer low to the keeper’s left (but kept far too central) easily gobbled up by the experienced Nielsen.
On to round nine, Myers calmly sent Rimando roaming to his right, before right-footing to the left-side with feeling. Borchers replied in kind, right-footing his finish straight down the middle as Nielsen wandered aimlessly to his right.
The tenth round, one more and the keepers would be shooting, began with Kansas City’s goal-scorer, Collin striding into position. He confidently tucked his right-footer to the keeper’s left into the side-netting, placed well beyond the reach of Rimando who read, but could not save.
And finally, Lovel Palmer, not looking particularly confident, stepped up to his fate.
He got a hold of the attempt with his right-foot, but as cruel soccer gods decried, it would rise a fraction too high and rebound off the underside of the bar, rattling it forcefully, but ultimately staying out.
Kansas City rushed the pitch to celebrate winning their second-ever MLS Cup, 7-6 on spot kicks after a 1-1 draw.
(via @FutbolIntellect)
Collin would be named the MVP of the match, scoring both his side’s equalizer (his third of the post-season) and what ended up being the difference maker in the shootout.
No doubt a tough loss for Salt Lake, as Kansas City required the thinnest of margins to eke out their victory.
Vermes would reflect on the building of the club post-match, after congratulating Salt Lake on a great season, “Years ago when the new ownership decided to buy this team, I had the pleasure of meeting them very*early on to discuss some things that would take place in the future at this club. What’s extremely*amazing to me is how everything they have talked about has come to fruition. Back then, we talked*about bringing special events to this new stadium to be built. If you look at the past year, we’ve hosted*the U.S. Open Cup, we have brought countless teams here to play exhibition games, we won the*Eastern Conference championship here, and now MLS Cup.
“It’s incredible when you have owners that*have such a connection to your team. It’s not just money—they’re involved in the community and all of*these things. I’m extremely happy for them, our staff, and then the team. I can’t tell you how happy I am*for the guys. It’s great to win MLS Cup as a player. It’s such a special moment, and no one can take*that away from you. I know the trials and tribulations you go through as a player. These guys are*committed and they love this club. And, of course, the final piece is the fans. The environment out there*is just absolutely incredible. I want thank them so much for their commitment out there in this weather.”
Kreis too reflected on the progression of the last few years, “It’s remarkable that this group has put themselves in so many positions to win things and unfortunately*things, one thing or another, just haven’t gone our way. It’s easy to look at that in a negative way, but I*don’t think we should because I thought we played outstanding tonight. It wasn’t like we came here to*defend or bunker in. I’m really proud of this group and I think it’s a fantastic team”, adding, “[i’m] really, really pleased with all that the group did this year. Their work ethic, what they achieved. I*think they proved me wrong and it’s just been an incredible, incredible year” referring to his designation of this season as a ‘rebuilding year’.
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Overheard
Interviewer appeared to call Aurelien Collin ‘Arlene’, as he was named the MVP of the final.
Collin would reflect on the three years that he has spent with the side, “They showed me something I never had in Europe. I would be working hard and have the best training*facilities. For the first time in my life, I had the best facilities, the best environment, the best*infrastructure. I know I am a better player now than I was three years ago. I know that if I stay here, I*will be a better player in three years than I am now. I wasn’t expecting all of this but I feel very blessed*and happy to be a part of it.”
And noting in addition that, “The second half was pretty hard for me because I had a small kick in the head. I couldn’t see that well,*so that’s why I scored. I was very lucky that Zusi put the ball exactly where I wanted it. I put*my head up and it went through, so I’m happy. I don’t know what I was thinking when I scored—I’m just*happy I scored.”
Hometown boy, Matt Besler tried to explain his elation at the moment, “It’s hard to explain really. It’s an amazing feeling, it’s overwhelming. There’s a lot of people that*deserve a championship and I honestly feel like I’m part of the fans. I’m a Kansas City guy and I’m*proud that we get to bring the MLS Cup home back to Kansas City.”
See It Live
Plenty of little snapshots littered throughout the night:
The clear dividing line between the Claret-clad travelling fans of Salt Lake and the Blue-bannered home fans of Kansas City was an excellent image; Don Garber’s Mafioso hat at half-time was spectacular – he is The Don, after all.
Nat Borchers getting kicked in the face.
(via @SBNationSoccer)
The Kyle Beckerman-Chris Schuler leaping hug celebration after the Salt Lake goal, followed in quick succession by Aurelien Collin throwing a strop and a touch of feisty language from either the pitch or the stands on the broadcast.
Nick Rimando’s save on Graham Zusi late; Joao Plata’s penalty kick – though there would be no dancing as the image of Sad Joao at the end haunted the screen – never like to see that; Collin’s winner may have been the best of the lot, and then there is Lovel Palmer’s decisive miss.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Tifo time. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23MLSCup&src=hash">#MLSCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SKCvRSL&src=hash">#SKCvRSL</a> <a href="http://t.co/skGO8U6FPA">pic.twitter.com/skGO8U6FPA</a></p>— The Full 90 (@TheFull90) <a href="
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Sport is truly about inches, as Salt Lake found to their dismay, striking the post on three occasions: through Robbie Findley, Beckerman, then Javier Morales.
The Presentation – apparently, Jimmy Nielsen celebrated with a victory cigarette, perhaps a Diet Coke as well.
Controversy
Should Collin, the eventual hero and MVP, been sent off?
He picked up a foul on Findley after 22 minutes, was booked in the 35th and then prayed his way out of a second in the 69th.
Offside goals from Findley and Saborio - no real debate here.
What about that Benny Feilhaber-Alvaro Saborio incident? A yellow warranted or sufficient? A little embellishment, eh?
Opinion Poll
At least one player, Javier Morales, was displeased with the decision to hold the match in such chilly conditions, stating, "It's not fun to play in that kind of weather. My toes were freezing [after] the first 20 minutes and I looked to the bench to give me something because I couldn't feel my toes … for me it was a bit ugly to play.
“[it’s] not an excuse. I'm not saying we lost the game because of the field. I'm talking because it's better for everyone, for you, for players, for coaches; I believe for soccer you need warm weather to play a good game, especially a final. Everyone is watching."*
Should MLS Cup continue to be hosted by one of the finalists, or should it return to a neutral site in warmer climes?
Upcoming Fixtures
That’s it, no more matches, as the players, managers, and fans alike take a well-deserved break for the upcoming month or two.
But fret not; it’ll all be back in short order.
The schedule for 2014 was released since the last review; the first round kicks off on March 8 with Seattle hosting Kansas City followed by a full round of a further eight matches.
It’s been a grand season, thanks for following each and every round with the review. See you in the spring!
All quotes, video, and images courtesy of MLSsoccer.com, unless otherwise credited.
Each week James takes a look at the league as a whole.
You can follow James on twitter @grawsee or read more of his writing at Partially Obstructed View