MLS Cup is finally here and in a few hours, either the LA Galaxy or the Houston Dynamo will be crowned the champions of Major League Soccer for the 2012 season.
The Galaxy have the chance to win their fourth MLS Cup in franchise history and Bruce Arena has the chance to be the first coach to win four MLS Cups as well as first to win back-to-back titles with two different teams. If Houston wins, it will be Dominic Kinnear's third MLS Cup and he'd join Arena as the only coaches to win three MLS Cup titles.
The match will be the final game for David Beckham with the LA Galaxy and on Thursday, he addressed the end of his Galaxy career.
The head coach at the start of Beckham's time in MLS, Frank Yallop addressed the hoopla that surrounded Beckham's first year in MLS.
Beckham will be matched up against the talented Brad Davis, who the Englishman is quick to label one of the "great" players in MLS.
Despite the praise from Beckham, Davis was quick to say that Houston is not distracted by the fact the match is David Beckham's final game.
There are no injury concerns for LA as Marcelo Sarvas has declared himself fit for tonight's match.
Tommy Meyer will face off against his old friend Houston forward Will Bruin and in my feature of the week, I chronicle Meyer's rise from St. Louis to MLS Cup.
During his press conference on Friday, Robbie Keane declared that he is incredibly pleased to be in Southern California and committed his future to the Galaxy.
For your listening pleasure, listen to Joe Tutino's conversations with Bruce Arena and Edson Buddle in the latest editions of the All-Access Podcast.
For a more general look at the game, read LAGalaxy.com staff writer Larry Morgan's preview of the match.
MATCH UPS TO WATCH:
ROBBIE KEANE VS. BOBBY BOSWELL
For my money, the match up of the game, Boswell was fantastic against D.C. United in shutting down their attack, but he'll face Robbie Keane , who has scored five postseason goals to date.
DAVID BECKHAM'S SET PIECES VS. BRAD DAVIS' SET PIECES
Two of the finest strikers of a set piece in MLS, expect the game to turn based on a strike by one of these two.
TODD DUNIVANT VS. BONIEK GARCIA
Dunivant will have his hands full dealing with the talented Honduran who has been a nuisence for opposing defenses this year. Expect Dunivant to look to frustrate the Honduran with high pressure early and often.
BRUCE ARENA VS. DOMINIC KINNEAR
Arguably the two best head coaches in MLS history and the only coaches to win back-to-back MLS Cup titles. Kinnear was the last to do so in '06-'07 and he'll be eager to prevent Arena from going back-to-back for a second time.
PREDICTED LINEUP: Saunders; Franklin, Gonzalez, Meyer, Dunivant; Wilhelmsson, Juninho, Beckham, Magee; Donovan, Keane
