CARSON, Calif. (Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014) – The LA Galaxy won their fifth MLS Cup with a victory over the New England Revolution Sunday afternoon at StubHub Center. The Galaxy are the first team in Major League Soccer to win five MLS Cup trophies.
After New England leveled the match on a second-half goal from Chris Tierney, MLS MVP Robbie Keane provided the game-winning goal in the second period of extra time to give the Galaxy the victory. Gyasi Zardes provided the first goal for the Galaxy in the 52nd minute.
The Galaxy have now won the MLS Cup in 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012 and 2014. The 2014 MLS Cup marks the third time in the last four years the Galaxy have captured an MLS Cup in Carson. The victory also marks the third time the Galaxy have defeated New England in an MLS Cup Final, previously earning victories in 2002 and 2005.
The MLS Cup was the final match in the historic career of LA Galaxy forward Landon Donovan, the most accomplished player in MLS history. Donovan finishes his MLS career as the all-time leader in goals (144), assists (136), playoff goals (25), game-winning goals (41) and MLS All-Star goals (six). He is tied for the all-time MLS lead in game-winning assists (41) and playoff assists (14). He is a winner of six MLS Cups (2001, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014) – the most in MLS history – a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (2005) and two MLS Supporters’ Shields (2010, 2011).
LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena, the most successful coach in MLS postseason history, captures his record fifth MLS Cup as a head coach. He is now 30-10-5 all time in the MLS Playoffs.
The Galaxy finish the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs with a 3-1-1 record, scoring nine goals and allowing just three. In the Western Conference Semifinal series, the Galaxy defeated Real Salt Lake 5-0 on aggregate behind a 5-0 win at StubHub Center in the second leg. In the Western Conference Championship series, midfielder Juninho provided the series-clinching goal when he scored on the road at CenturyLink Field in the second leg as the Galaxy advanced on away goals with a 2-2 aggregate score line.
In the 2014 MLS Regular Season, the Galaxy recorded one of their best seasons in club history, going 17-7-10 while scoring 69 goals and allowing just 37. LA’s +32 goal differential was the best in MLS this season and the second-highest in League history, trailing only the 1998 Galaxy side that recorded a +41 goal differential. The team ended the regular season with just seven losses in their 34 matches, the fewest in MLS this season, having only lost only four matches in the team’s final 26 games.
A schedule for LA Galaxy final media availability of 2014 will be announced in the coming days.
