What: MLS Cup
Who: Colorado Rapids vs FC Dallas
When: Sunday 21st November 8:30pm, 2010 (1.30am UK time Monday 22nd November, 2010)
Where: BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
Overturning the Odds
Last year it was Real Salt Lake who stunned the supposed favourites en route the final. This year, Colorado have done exactly the same, after finishing with the seventh-best record to squeeze into the post-season.
Pitted against the highly-rated Columbus Crew then San Jose Earthquakes – conquerors of the much-hyped New York Red Bulls – the Rapids’ organisation and clinical finishing won the day. Special mention must go to the Colorado defence – in three games, the Rapids have kept two clean sheets.
Manager Gary Smith knows there is one big hurdle left to clear, but has heaped the pressure on FC Dallas. He said: “When you’re classed as an underdog, there aren’t too many expectations. For Dallas, it’s slightly different now. The expectations were minimal for them going into LA. The difference is, now they’re under some pressure.”
Destroying Beckham’s Dreams
FC Dallas have been on an impressive run too, eliminating last season’s finalists, Real Salt Lake and David Beckham’s Los Angeles Galaxy, and will enter the final as favourites. Few felt Dallas could deny Beckham a chance at redemption for last year’s MLS Cup defeat, but a masterclass from David Ferreira secured the upset.
They finished four points ahead of the Rapids during the regular season, but the teams drew both games against each other. It will be critical for FC Dallas to win the midfield battle and exploit the numerical advantage against Colorado’s 4-4-2 formation.
Manager Schellas Hyndman is keeping his cool, admitting: “These games only come so often in a person’s lifetime, so we’ll be at our best. If we’re good enough, we’re going to win the cup. If it’s not good enough, we would’ve given our best.”
Playoff form
Colorado:
Colorado 1-0 Columbus (28/10)
Columbus 2-1 Colorado (06/11; 2-2 on aggregate, Colorado win 5-4 on penalties)
Colorado 1-0 San Jose (13/11)
FC Dallas:
FC Dallas 2-1 Real Salt Lake (30/10)
Real Salt Lake 1-1 FC Dallas (06/11; FC Dallas win 3-2 on aggregate)
LA Galaxy 0-3 FC Dallas (14/11)
Key absences
Colorado: none
FC Dallas: Heath Pearce, Milton Rodriguez
Players to watch
Colorado Rapids: Colorado have not been free scoring in the playoffs, but front men Omar Cummings and Conor Casey are the obvious threats. If the Rapids can soak up pressure and then counter attack, this strikeforce could take the game away from FC Dallas. But equally crucial will be the holding midfield duo of Pablo Mastroeni and Jeff Larentowicz, who will be asked to subdue FC Dallas’ talented five-man midfield.
FC Dallas: Dallas live and breathe depending on the performance of David Ferreira. Against Los Angeles Galaxy, he was outstanding with a goal and an assist, but he will be marked tightly by the Rapids. All that attention might create space for others, though, and winger Marvin Chavez showed his quality against LA. At the other end, goalkeeper Kevin Hartman must continue his fine post-season form.
Match prediction
Colorado have won over plenty of neutrals with their gutsy run to the MLS Cup and it is hard to bet against their potent attack coming good. But FC Dallas are a stronger team with a deeper bench and the quality of Ferreira, the MLS MVP.
While it is not the showdown that fans might have expected or hoped for – neither side has a designated player – the climax of the MLS season should be an exciting one, with FC Dallas grabbing a narrow win.
