The SuperLiga final between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Pachuca was just about everything that anyone could have hoped for. At the end of 90 minutes, the score was tied at 1-1, and 30 minutes of extra time couldn't decide the winner either.
In the end, Pachuca beat the Galaxy 4-3 on penalties to win the inaugural SuperLiga title. The Galaxy put in a heroic effort on the night, battling back the way they did, when all certainly could have seemed lost.
After being out-shot 10-2 in the first half, the Galaxy entered the locker room down a goal due to a bit of a bad break. Pete Vagenas was the victim of an own goal that gave the Mexican side the advantage.
The goal deflated the Galaxy a bit, and if not for the heroics of Joe Cannon at the tail end of the first half, LA could have been out of the match. Given their recent performances in the league the final could have been decided right there, especially considering the fact that David Beckham left the game with an injury in the 33rd minute.
Instead the Galaxy came out swinging in the second half and earned an equalizer in the waning moments of the game. In the end they came up empty, but it was a performance to be applauded.
"Our team's performance was outstanding tonight. Coming into this game I felt we were playing a good side in Pachuca," said Galaxy manager Frank Yallop after the match. "To be honest I'm proud of every single one of our players tonight. They kept going until the end and I felt that was a fantastic performance given the circumstances and all the crap we've had to put up with in the last three or four weeks."
Over the course of the last month the Galaxy has been faced with what is arguably the most grueling schedule in MLS history. The prospect of an extra 30 minutes in the SuperLiga final was probably the last thing that anyone on the team wanted. But by the end of the game, the Galaxy had created just as many opportunities to win the game as Pachuca. As a result there were mixed emotions following a great performance with nothing to show for it.
"That's the problem with PKs -- sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn't. It doesn't reflect anything on how we played," said Alan Gordon. "We played a great game against a great team. There's got to be a winner and a loser. It was exciting. It was just disappointing that we didn't come out on top."
David Beckham sprained ligaments in his right knee on a first-half collision with Fernando Salazar, forcing him out of the game. He was receiving treatment in the locker room, but watched the match, and was heartened by his teammate's performances.
"Tonight's about the team and about the players that finished the game because the performance they put in and the effort they put in against a tough team, full credit to them," said Beckham. "I know what it's like to work hard in games and come out with nothing and we've done that tonight. We can take a lot of credit from the game. We showed a lot of character."
The stage was set for the Galaxy to win the tournament in penalty kicks. Landon Donovan stepped up to take the 10th kick overall, needing to bury it to send the Galaxy to a win. Pachuca goalie Miguel Calero guessed correctly and saved the shot, and in the next round of kicks Pachuca secured the win.
"I don't think about (where I'm going to shoot) beforehand. I usually let my instincts take over, and I'm usually good with that," said Donovan about his penalty miss. "I was disappointed in the way I approached it and I should have slowed myself down and relaxed. I think he was pretty far off his line by that time and I should have just put it in the other side."
Now the question is how the Galaxy bounce back from the defeat. In addition to the match being emotionally draining, the Galaxy are faced with yet another week with two games. After 120 minutes of action, the key for the club will be trying to recover in time to play Real Salt Lake over the weekend.
The playoffs are a distant hope right now, but if the Galaxy can replicate Wednesday's performance over the course of their remaining league schedule they might be able to sneak into the postseason. So far they haven't been able to translate their SuperLiga success into the league, but Wednesday could provide the model by which to aspire to.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
