The final match of every tournament is always exciting. But when a true legend retires in a final match, then the air fills with some nostalgia. On Sunday, fans will have their last opportunity to cheer Landon Donovan, and he will try to go out in style by winning his sixth MLS Cup with the Los Angeles Galaxy against the New England Revolution.
The Western Conference Champions have been MLS's dominant force since the season started. With Donovan's cooperation, the Galaxy has enough arguments to keep the trophy at StubHub Center. If they needed some extra motivation, Bruce Arena's men would become the winningest team in MLS history, breaking the tie with D.C. United. If Los Angeles want to win this trophy, then they should concentrate on keeping their playing style, regardless of what New England attempts to do.
The possible absence of A.J. De La Garza could be a major setback for Bruce Arena, since he is key to his tactical approach. Apart from Donovan, Robbie Keane and defender Omar Gonzalez could be truly important for the game's outcome, and their contributions will be truly helpful for a team that has lost only two matches during the playoffs when playing at their home turf.
For the Revs, it's all about revenge. What could possibly be better than stripping one of the most winning clubs in MLS history of a new title, just when their star player is about to retire? Having lost two final matches against the Angelinos, the NE Revolution will try to make this third time work like a charm and finally earn their first-ever MLS Cup.
If the Eastern Conference Champions want their chances to grow, then their strong midfield should dominate the opposition. Ever since Jermaine Jones joined the team, Jay Heaps' team has only lost one game, and they will try to keep this momentum going for them, as they get to their fifth final match. Jones should expect some help from Uruguayan Diego Fagundez and Lee Nguyen, who will surely try to upset the home team and enter MLS history by helping the Revs win their first title.
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