MLS Cup Final Preview

By: travis | November 22nd, 2008

The final weekend of the 2008 Major League Soccer season is now upon us. Tomorrow, two unlikely teams will square off for the Phillip Anschutz trophy seen to the left. Raise your hand if you thought either of these teams would get this far at the end of the season. Columbus has played well all season and are no surprise, which leaves the cinderella Red Bull as the real surprise. Many pundits out there scoff at the notion of a team with such a poor record can make it all the way to the final, but leave that aside. They got hot at the right time, and Juan Carlos Osorio has pulled the right strings near the end of the season to get a sensation win over the Dynamo, and then aided by the woodwork and some poor finishing against Real Salt Lake. Take nothing away from NY, who have stepped up at the crucial juncture of the season to put themselves in this position.

Even though they’ve made it this far, does anyone fancy their chance against the Crew? Sigi Schmid’s squad has played well from day one, and their Argentinian playmaker Guillermo Barros Schelotto has been consistent all season. His stat sheet reads well, and he was rightly named the MVP of the league this week. But out in Columbus, it’s not all about Schelotto. Robbie Rogers has enjoyed a solid season of his own, providing pace down the wing and tormenting opposing fullbacks. His return to the US has been a good one indeed – perhaps so good that their is talk about him heading back to Europe again. Along with that, Will Hesmer played well in goal all season, and he can be counted on to make a save or two in the crucial parts of the game. Coach Schmid has been here already, and this is his fourth MLS Cup – he guided the Galaxy to a win in 2002, after having lost in 1999 and 2001. You’d have to give Siggy the coaching edge in this match.

On the other side of the ball, Juan Carlos Osorio will have his work cut out for him. The Red Bulls have had a roller coaster ride of a season, barely squeaking into the playoffs. Their last regular season game was a 5-2 humiliation at the hands of the Fire, and they have their opponents to thank for their playoff berth, as the Crew beat DC United on the last Sunday to allow New York to advance. They have peaked at the right time, dominating the Dynamo and eeking out a win against RSL. The story of their season? Juan Pablo Angel and Dave van den Bergh – by fair their two most consistent players of the season. With Angel’s scoring, they’d be dead in the water, especially after Jozy Altidore high-tailed it to Spain.

What makes their playoff run so remarkable is Danny Cepero. The young backup was called into action when Jon Conway was suspended on October 16 of this season. That and the loss of Jeff Parke through the same suspension, made me think the Red Bulls were done for. They showed character and perseverance as they made a mad dash for the playoffs. Cepero has been solid if not spectacular in the postseason, and while he can look nervous at times, his play has been a huge boost for New York.

When it comes down to it, picking the Red Bulls is difficult. Yes, they seem like they are destined to be here, but will fate play a cruel trick on them at the end? Osorio’s coaching in the playoffs appears to atone for some of his errors earlier in the season. But the Crew are good. Much better on paper than the Red Bulls, and I have a hard time figuring out how they’ll solve Will Hesmer and Chad Marshall. The relief from this final is the fact that a new team will host the MLS Cup, and the Dynamo and Revolution are not involved. When Sunday comes around, I expect the Crew will finish out what they’ve started, and sort out Danny Cepero to win in regulation. Expect a live blog of the action tomorrow, and click on the links below for some more detailed previews.

Verdict: Columbus 2-1 New York