With a week of debate over the merits of three MVP finalists, it seems like every soccer writer has taken a side between Edson Buddle, Chris Wondolowski, and David Ferreia. Landon Donovan has taken a side as well:
“[Edson]‘s the MVP of the league, I don’t care what anybody says. It’s pretty clear he’s got something special this year”
The second half didn’t quite measure up to the first in terms of excitement. The Los Angeles Galaxy only took two shots and the Seattle Sounds three as the defenses really clamped down in the final 45 minutes. David Beckham had the only shot on target for the Galaxy, taking a free kick after Edson Buddle suffered a foul in the 70’. Seattle never tested Donovan Ricketts in the second half.
There were a pile of yellow cards, which should have an affect on the next leg. Dema Kovalenko, Jovan Kirovski, and Juninho all were booked and will have to avoid picking up a second yellow or be suspended for the Western Conference final should the Galaxy move on. For Seattle, forwards Freddy Montero and Blaise Nkufo both picked up yellows.
The Galaxy put to rest many pundits belief that they wouldn’t be able to get a result in Seattle. Though the Galaxy had picked up a 4-0 result in Seattle earlier in the year, the general dissenting position was that Seattle was at such top form while the Galaxy had looked shaky which meant they would have a devil of a time inside very tough Quest Field.
Since MLS went to its current playoff format in 2003, the home team has dropped the first leg just five times, and has come back to win only once.