The Los Angeles Galaxy and Houston Dynamo will go head to head in the 2011 MLS Cup Final on Sunday night.
The game will kickoff at 9pm (Eastern Time) and will be played at the Galaxy’s home field.
This is the fourth time that the Home Depot Center has hosted the MLS Cup Final, but the first time the hometown Galaxy have competed in a final there. In fact, this is only the third time in league history that a team has contested the MLS Cup Final on their home ground.
Back in 1997, D.C. United beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 at RFK Stadium in the second ever MLS championship game. Then in 2002, the New England Revolution fell 1-0 to the Galaxy at GiIlette Stadium courtesy of an extra-time strike from Guillermo Ramirez.
Both Los Angeles and Houston will go into Sunday’s game looking to secure their third league championship trophy. Interestingly, the New England Revolution have been on the losing end of all four MLS Cup Final’s that these two clubs have won.
Sean Alvarado, Chad Barrett and Leonardo are ruled out with injury for LA, while David Beckham, Gregg Berhalter and Bryan Jordan are listed as questionable.
Galaxy fans will be sweating on the fitness of Beckham, who has tallied 15 assists this season. Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane will lead a dangerous attack for the Galaxy. Donovan showed how much this game means to him by refusing to play for the USA national team last week. Instead, Donovan shoes not to travel to Europe and stay to prepare with his Galaxy teammates.
Brad Davis, Jason Garey and Cam Weaver are sidelined with injury for the Dynamo. Davis will be missed by Houston after leading MLS this season with 16 assists.
Geoff Cameron, Brian Ching and Will Bruin, who all scored five goals during the regular season, will be expected to pick up the slack in the Houston attack.
If the game is tied at the end of regulation, then 30 minutes of extra time will be played. If the game remains tied, then the MLS Champion will be decided by a penalty shootout.
The game will be nationally televised on ESPN (9pm ET).
This is the fourth time that the Home Depot Center has hosted the MLS Cup Final, but the first time the hometown Galaxy have competed in a final there. In fact, this is only the third time in league history that a team has contested the MLS Cup Final on their home ground.
Back in 1997, D.C. United beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 at RFK Stadium in the second ever MLS championship game. Then in 2002, the New England Revolution fell 1-0 to the Galaxy at GiIlette Stadium courtesy of an extra-time strike from Guillermo Ramirez.
Both Los Angeles and Houston will go into Sunday’s game looking to secure their third league championship trophy. Interestingly, the New England Revolution have been on the losing end of all four MLS Cup Final’s that these two clubs have won.
Sean Alvarado, Chad Barrett and Leonardo are ruled out with injury for LA, while David Beckham, Gregg Berhalter and Bryan Jordan are listed as questionable.
Galaxy fans will be sweating on the fitness of Beckham, who has tallied 15 assists this season. Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane will lead a dangerous attack for the Galaxy. Donovan showed how much this game means to him by refusing to play for the USA national team last week. Instead, Donovan shoes not to travel to Europe and stay to prepare with his Galaxy teammates.
Brad Davis, Jason Garey and Cam Weaver are sidelined with injury for the Dynamo. Davis will be missed by Houston after leading MLS this season with 16 assists.
Geoff Cameron, Brian Ching and Will Bruin, who all scored five goals during the regular season, will be expected to pick up the slack in the Houston attack.
If the game is tied at the end of regulation, then 30 minutes of extra time will be played. If the game remains tied, then the MLS Champion will be decided by a penalty shootout.
The game will be nationally televised on ESPN (9pm ET).
