Keane, Galaxy send Donovan off a champ in MLS Cup
CARSON, Calif. — Major League Soccer's championship game was sealed, appropriately enough, by its best player on Sunday, as Robbie Keane's extra-time winner gave the Los Angeles Galaxy a 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution.
Republic of Ireland forward Keane, named as the league MVP earlier in the week, struck the critical goal of a hard-fought MLS Cup final in the 111th minute to hand the Galaxy its third title in four seasons.
Of all the highly-paid foreign imports who have been brought into North American soccer, including David Beckham, Thierry Henry and others, it is hard to argue that any have been more productive than Keane, who motivation and eye for goal remain undimmed at the age of 34.
The outcome gave a perfect sendoff to L.A.'s other big star, Landon Donovan, whose professional career came to a close with a record sixth MLS Cup win. Donovan shed tears that were surely a mixture of joy and relief at the final whistle and no wonder, as this was one that the Galaxy nearly let slip away.
Gyasi Zardes put the home side ahead on 52 minutes, but a defensive lapse in concentration allowed New England, who responded superbly from years in the doldrums to put together a championship challenge this campaign, equalize through Chris Tierney with 11 minutes of regulation remaining and force the game to extra-time.
Each side had cause for complaint with the officiating – with the Revolution the first to feel aggrieved when Zardes' strike came less than a minute after Lee Nguyen was bumped off the ball by Brazilian midfielder Juninho as he prepared to shoot, with the visitors' impassioned pleas for a penalty kick falling on deaf ears.
Yet the home side were similarly outraged when Keane seemingly looked poised to ice it with 15 minutes of regulation left, only for the assistant to incorrectly raise a flag for offside after Donovan had sent him clear on goal.
Sure enough, New England responded, to put the destiny of the title back in the balance. Jose Goncalves long clearance drifted dangerously towards the corner of the Galaxy penalty area, Patrick Mullins provided a clever cut-back, and Tierney coolly beat goalkeeper Jaime Penedo from close range.
However that merely set the stage for Keane to show his championship caliber once again and prove why he has been the talisman that has driven what is arguably becoming the 19-year-old league's finest dynasty.
Keane secured his first title within weeks of moving to Los Angeles in 2011, added another a year later, and had the clear mindedness to provide the telling blow when it mattered most here.
A long ball from midfielder Marcelo Sarvas found Keane with time and space to advance on goal and slide a low shot past goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth before performing his trademark celebratory cartwheel.
The Revolution had been game and tenacious throughout, much like their mindset all season, but after Keane's strike they had little left and MLS' highest-profile team became its champion once more.
"It wasn't our best game but that doesn't matter now, " Keane said. "We are champions again."