CARSON, Calif.— LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano’s Three Points to Saturday’s 3-1 win over the Houston Dynamo in MLS Cup 2012 at The Home Depot Center.
FIVE MINUTES SAVE THE GALAXY’S SEASON
After Houston Dynamo forward Calen Carr scored to put Houston up in the closing stages of the first half, things appeared bleak for the LA Galaxy, but as the club has done time and time again this season, they battle back.
In the 60th minute, Juninho set up a diagonal ball that was headed in by Gonzalez to start the Galaxy’s rally. Moments later, a Ricardo Clark handball won a penalty for the Galaxy that Landon Donovan easily slotted home for the go-ahead-goal. Their lead erased, Houston appeared frazzled as they struggled to create opportunities to tie up the match.
The Galaxy would add a third in stoppage time as Robbie Keane tallied LA’s third goal of the night on a penalty due to a foul in the box by goalkeeper Tally Hall.
Gonzalez named the Volkswagen MVP
GONZALEZ AERIAL PRESENCE WINS IT FOR LA
Perhaps no player on the night was as dominant in the air as LA Galaxy central defender Omar Gonzalez.
During the early stages of the match with the Dynamo pressing, the centerback was able to repeatedly win balls in the air over Houston’s Will Bruin, preventing the Dynamo forward from getting involved the attack. However, his finest moment came in the 60th minute when off a pinpoint lofting diagonal ball from Juninho, Gonzalez smashed in a header to pull the Galaxy level and start LA’s comeback.
It was fitting that Omar Gonzalez was awarded the 2012 MLS Cup MVP trophy after the match. Gonzalez is now the first defender to win the award.
BECKHAM’S HOLLYWOOD ENDING
Postgame reaction from David Beckham
In his final match with the LA Galaxy, David Beckham made sure that he was able to finish his six year tenure with LA as a back-to-back champion.
Throughout the match, Beckham was an omnipresent force repeatedly creating chances for the Galaxy throughout the field. With his impact, it was no surprise that Beckham was involved in two of LA’s goal providing service that led to two of LA’s goals. In the 60th minute, Beckham recovered a loose ball that eventually found Juninho who found Gonzalez for the first goal. Five minutes later, a Beckham free kick would led to a penalty for LA that was slotted home by Donovan.
Although the Beckham era was not always as pleasant as it was on Saturday, the last memory of the Englishman will be with him lifting the MLS Cup.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
