The most storied franchise in MLS history, the Los Angeles Galaxy, are in for a tough outing when they host the league’s hottest team, the New England Revolution for the 2014 MLS Cup Final. The Revs are making a fifth-appearance in the championship game after leaving the first four empty-handed. Meanwhile, the Galaxy are gunning for a third title in four years as a fitting farewell gift to the retiring Landon Donovan.
It doesn’t get any bigger than this. Check out our preview for the Manchester City vs. Everton game on Saturday to get you primed for a weekend of great soccer action.
[sc:Soccer ]Los Angeles Galaxy vs. New England Revolution Preview
Where: StubHub Center, Carson, California
When: Sunday, December 7, 3:00 PM ET
Line: New England Revolution (+396) at Los Angeles Galaxy (-170), tie +257; total 2.5 – view all MLS lines
Betting on the Los Angeles Galaxy
All eyes will be on Donovan in the final game of his professional career with the MLS Cup on the line. The league’s most polarizing figure, Donovan holds the all-time records for career regular season goals scored (144) and assists (136) as well as career playoff goals.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]The aging Galaxy forward hasn’t lost a step on his way to retirement. Donovan scored a hat trick in the second leg of the Galaxy’s Western Conference Semifinal against Real Salt Lake, a 5-0 rout. It’s going to be very difficult to stop this man from taking his sixth MLS Cup title as a retirement present.
Donovan will be joined in the Galaxy’s formidable attack by a proven finisher in Robbie Keane. The Irish forward led Los Angeles with 19 goals in the regular season (third in the league). However, Keane has quite a challenge ahead of him as he has to contend with New England’s Jermaine Jones while Scott Caldwell and Andrew Farrell are ready to pick him up should he stray left.
With much the attention on Donovan and Keane, the door to goal may be left open for Gyasi Zardes, who scored 16 goals in the regular season. While Zardes has failed to get himself on the score sheet in the playoffs, he can’t be ignored after he scored a brace in the Galaxy’s 5-1 home drubbing of New England on July 16.
A third championship in four years may be in the books for Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon. The Galaxy have an impeccable 14-1-4 record at StubHub Center and won the championship on home turf in 2011 and 2012.
Betting on the New England Revolution
While the Galaxy have a front-heavy team capable of scoring goals for fun, the Revs have a talented midfield which could shut down the Galaxy’s attack with a possession-based game plan.
Lee Nguyen has been spectacular in New England’s midfield with a team-high 20 goals, including two in the postseason. Nguyen should continue to figure prominently on the attack as he netted the Revs’ lone goal in the 5-1 loss suffered against Los Angeles.
The drubbing against Los Angeles certainly stings and the Revs have lost two championship games to the Galaxy in 2002 and 2005, but they have the best chance to win their first ever MLS Cup this year with electric midfielder Jermaine Jones powering their midfield.
Since Jones’ arrival in August 24, the Revs have stepped up their game, going on an impressive 11-1-2 run. The USMNT veteran has been hot in the postseason with a goal and two assists in New England’s two postseason games away from home.
While the focus is mostly on the Revs’ dynamic midfield duo of Nguyen and Jones, starting forward Charlie Davies could yet steal the show in the final. The Galaxy definitely shouldn’t sleep on Davis, who has scored a 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs-high four goals, all four coming while on the road.
Writer’s Prediction
Most of the spotlight will be on Los Angeles, which should make it even sweeter for New England when they spoil Donovan’s farewell party. The Revs (+396) take a tight 1-0 contest to win their first ever MLS Cup. Create a betting account now and win big on this exciting conclusion to the 2014 MLS season.
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