We're only a few days away from MLS Cup 2004, the championship final of America's Major League Soccer. The match will pit Kansas City Wizards (2000 winners) vs record champions DC United. KC will be looking for a double, having won the US Open Cup last month.
DC reached the final by topping my own New England Revolution in sudden death of a penalty shootout following a 3-3 draw. Many commentators are calling it the most thrilling match in MLS history; unfortunately, it wasn't on national television.
The neutral observer in me has to support DC, albeit not enthusiastically. United play very, VERY physically, but at least they offer an exciting brand of attacking soccer. Kansas City, on the other hand, achieved the league's second best record on defense and a style of play that only a diehard could love. Their fairly successful brand of negative soccer has more than compensated for the loss of key players like playmaker Preki, winger Chris Klein and veteran goalkeeper Tony Meola (all internationals earlier in their careers). KC used the defend-and-counter strategy successfully in winning the 2000 championship against the more creative Chicago.
Hopefully, this will be a good match. Though with the physical United and the negative KC, signs aren't good. Nor are trends. The 2000 and 2002 finals were dreadful affairs; I attended the latter and struggled to stay awake despite the presence of 61,000 fans and my favorite team. The 2001 and 2003 finals were brilliant and filled with scintillating soccer Unfortunately, 2004 is an even numbered year.
1 comment:
I went to the first MLS Cup in Foxboro back in 1996. The place was packed even though freezing rain was POURING down in buckets, absolutely unreal conditions. Jorge Campos was the goalie for LA and he was abolutely electrifying to watch but he ended up making a mistake and DC got back in the game. DC had a great team that year and Eddie Pope played a great game. Hopefully CA will be a bit warmer than November in Foxboro.
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