In a title game that saw the LA Galaxy become the first team in Major League Soccer history to win five MLS Cup championships, no individual took over the game in regulation, but the Galaxy proved too strong as a group and got the difference-making play they needed with nine minutes remaining in extra time.
Here are the player ratings from the showdown in Carson on Sunday.
LA GALAXY
Jaime Penedo (6) - After having almost nothing to do in the first half, Penedo did well to come off his line to deal with several contested through balls, including Andrew Farrell's cross three minutes into stoppage time to clinch the win.
A.J. DeLaGarza (7.5) - An outstanding day at right back for 90 minutes and left back for 30. Defensively, the highlight came when he ran with Charlie Davies and blocked his 28th-minute effort; offensively, DeLaGarza's long ball set up the game-winner.
Omar Gonzalez (5.5) - Looked very assured early with his feet and dealt with Davies well. He had more trouble with Mullins, including allowing the pass that set up the Revolution's game-tying goal.
Leonardo (5) - Like Gonzalez, had a tougher time with Mullins than Davies. He was caught flat-footed on Tierney's run that tied the game.
Robbie Rogers (off 91') (6) - Really active for 90 minutes, including creating a big chance in second minute and sending in several dangerous crosses, but none connected.
Stefan Ishizaki (off 91') (5.5) - Did not have much influence on the game in the first half but had a much better connection with his teammates in the second, highlighted by his cross that set up Gyasi Zardes' opening goal and his through ball for Robbie Keane late in regulation.
Juninho (off 96') (6) - Like the Galaxy, grew more comfortable as the game went on and contributed several penetrating long balls before being subbed off due to injury. Did well to tackle the ball when he collided with Lee Nguyen in the penalty area in the 51st minute, but he deserved a yellow card for his challenge on Jermaine Jones.
Marcelo Sarvas (6) - Made a perfectly-timed tackle to deny Charlie Davies in the penalty area in the 14th minute, had two key switches of the field in the buildup to Zardes' goal, and set up Keane for an attack with which the Irishman should have done better in the 70th minute.
Landon Donovan (5.5) - A quiet game by his standards, though technically sound most of the night. Could have had his goodbye moment in the 70th minute, when Keane didn't find him at a better shooting angle, or with his extra-time free kick that sailed high.
Gyasi Zardes
(6.5) - Had a few good touches in the first half, then really thrived when moved out wide to take on Andrew Farrell in the second half. The first Homegrown Player to score in an MLS Cup Final deserves major praise for his composure on the opening goal, waiting for the ball to settle before unleashing an excellent left-footed finish.
Robbie Keane (6) - An uncharacteristically shaky afternoon was saved with his clinical finish in the 111th minute, a stark contrast to his stumbling shot in the 70th minute when passing to Donovan was the best option.
Subs:
Dan Gargan (on 91') (5.5) - Was not challenged often in extra time, but handled everything.
Alan Gordon (on 91') (5) - Did not get very involved beyond stepping offside on one chance.
Baggio Husidic (on 96') (5) - Solid in central midfield, but nothing stood out.
Coach Bruce Arena (8) – Got everything right, particularly the predictable yet crucial decision to switch Zardes and Donovan at halftime, a move that put the Galaxy on the front foot for the first 20 minutes of the second half. Waited until overtime to use all three of his substitutions, but they also paid off, with a relocated DeLaGarza playing through for Keane to score the winner.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Bobby Shuttleworth (4.5) - Though not directly at fault on either goal, he struggled to hold shots, notably a tantalizing rebound in the 81st minute, and struggled with his kicking game throughout.
Andrew Farrell (4) - After a horrific first 15 minutes in which nerves got the best of him, Farrell did not rise to the occasion when pitted against Gyasi Zardes after halftime. Looked more comfortable over the final 60 minutes.
A.J. Soares (5) - Recovered from mis-hitting an early back pass but never really stamped his authority on the game.
Jose Gonçalves (5.5) - Solid in the air and closing passing lanes in the first half and hit dangerous long ball that led to New England equalizer. Still, Robbie Keane was his man on the game-winning goal.
Chris Tierney
(6) - A really strong game in regulation, including great runs off the ball and a composed finish to tie the game in the 79th minute. Yet he lost touch with his center backs and played Keane onside for the winner.
Scott Caldwell (off 58') (5) - The other Homegrown player to start an MLS Cup, tying Zardes for a league first, he was in the right spot to clear a ball off the goal line in the second minute. OK on the defensive side but struggled to connect passes when he got forward.
Jermaine Jones (6) - Great engine and stayed involved all game but really did not have the impact he had in the regular season. Lucky to be on the field after his two-legged tackle on Landon Donovan in the 48th minute. Dropped into a deeper role after Caldwell came off.
Teal Bunbury (5) - Never got as involved as New England wanted him to be. Missed a golden chance to counter in the 21st minute when he did not pull the trigger to find Kelyn Rowe ahead of him but did come close to what would have been a stunning winner when his left-footed chip hit the crossbar in the 85th minute.
Lee Nguyen (off 91'+) (5.5) - Found some pockets of space in the first half but could not connect on any decisive plays. His hesitation move in the penalty area in the 51st minute usually leads to a higher-percentage shot but, this time, wound up costing the Revolution a golden chance to go ahead.
Kelyn Rowe (5.5) - Started well and twice set up teammates in the penalty area with passes to Charlie Davies (14') and Lee Nguyen (51') but ran out of steam and was less influential later in the game and in extra time, when the Revs could have used his creativity in the absence of Nguyen.
Charlie Davies (off 72') (4.5) - Did not have the impact he had in the first four postseason games and saw his only real scoring chances thwarted by good pressure from the Galaxy back line.
Subs:
Daigo Kobayashi (on 58') (5) - Came on in a holding role between Jones and Nguyen. In regulation, seemed to see the right passes but was unable to connect. Asked to play farther forward in extra time, he did connect with Mullins (103') and Farrell (117') in the penalty area, but nothing came of the chances.
Patrick Mullins (on 72') (6) - Changed the game when he came on, using his movement to throw off 6-footers Gonzalez and Leonardo and then holding off the much bigger Gonzalez to feed Tierney for the tying goal. Also forced several saves from Penedo.
Andy Dorman (on 91'+) (5) - Did not have much impact while playing alongside Jones in extra time.
Coach Jay Heaps (6) – Did not hesitate to make substitutions early in the second half and saw them pay off on the tying goal. May have also seen them backfire, given the fatigue New England dealt with in the second half.
