CARSON, Calif. — The LA Galaxy’s Omar Gonzalez was dominant force in the back against the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup on Saturday. But it was his play at the other end — where he scored the 60th-minute equalizer to bring the Galaxy back from the brink — that tipped the scales and earned him the Volkswagen MVP trophy.
Down 1-0 at the time, Gonzalez’s goal energized the Galaxy and sparked a dramatic and energetic come-from-behind 3-1 win over the Dynamo to lead LA to their second straight championship.
“The locker room was pretty quiet at halftime, but I think everyone knew deep down inside that we were going to get a goal,” Gonzalez told ESPN after the match. “And once we did, we were going to win the game.”
The goal, off a cross from Juninho, was the crowning moment on a season of struggles for Gonzalez. He missed the first half of the season through injury picked up while on loan in Germany, and then took a while to get back to full fitness and form.
But once he was back, the Galaxy hummed, and the goal showed just why Gonzalez is one of the most dominating players in MLS today. He outjumped three Houston defenders and placed his header into the far side netting.
“Juninho put up a great ball and I was able to get over my guy and put it in," he told MLSsoccer.com. "It was fantastic. I didn't think it would be happening to me.”
