MLS Cup 2014

MLS Cup 2014 was the 19th edition of the MLS Cup, the match that determined the champion of Major League Soccer's 2014 season. It is also the last MLS Cup to be held before the league's rebranding in 2015. The Western Conference Champions LA Galaxy played the Eastern Conference Champions New England Revolution. The soccer match was held at the Galaxy's home field of the StubHub Center in Carson, California, as the Galaxy were awarded home advantage by finishing the regular season with more points than the Revolution. The Galaxy won 2–1 after Overtime, winning their fifth MLS Cup title and also sending all-time U.S. national team goal scoring leader Landon Donovan into retirement with his sixth MLS Cup crown.[1]

MLS Cup 2014
EventMLS Cup
After extra time
DateDecember 7, 2014
VenueStubHub Center, Carson, California, US
Most Valuable PlayerRobbie Keane
(LA Galaxy)
RefereeMark Geiger
Attendance27,000
WeatherCloudy, 73 °F (23 °C)

It was a record sixth time that the MLS Cup was held at the StubHub Center, and the first time in two years that the venue has hosted the MLS Cup. The Galaxy returned to the MLS Cup for the first time since 2012, when they became the third club to win the championship in back-to-back seasons. It was the first time since 2007 that the Revolution reached the MLS Cup final. The two clubs had met twice before in the MLS Cup final: in 2002 and in 2005; the Galaxy defeated New England 1–0 after Overtime in both finals. New England Revolution became the first club to lose five MLS Cups.

Going into the match, the Galaxy had earned a berth into the 2015–16 CONCACAF Champions League regardless of the result; New England could only do so by winning the Cup. Since the Seattle Sounders won both the U.S. Open Cup and the Supporters Shield, the Galaxy had secured a berth into the Champions League as the Supporters Shield runner-up. Had New England won the match, they would have entered as the MLS Cup champion representative. Instead, Real Salt Lake went to the Champions League.

Road to the final

Both teams finished second in their respective conferences at the end of the regular season. The Galaxy convincingly defeated Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference semifinals by an aggregate score of 5–0. They then advanced past Seattle Sounders FC and to MLS Cup 2–2 on aggregate due to the away goals tiebreaker, as the Galaxy had 1 away goal to Seattle's 0. New England knocked out the Columbus Crew 7–3 on aggregate after dominating both legs of the Eastern Conference semifinals before narrowly besting the New York 4–3 over the two legs to reach MLS Cup.

New England Revolution Round LA Galaxy
Eastern Conference
Team GP W L T GF GA GD Pts.
D.C. United 3417985237+1559
New England Revolution 34171345146+555
Columbus Crew 341410105242+1052
New York Red Bulls 341310115550+550
Sporting Kansas City 34141374841+749
Regular season
Western Conference
Team GP W L T GF GA GD Pts.
Seattle Sounders FC 34201046550+1564
LA Galaxy 34177106937+3261
Real Salt Lake 34158115439+1556
FC Dallas 34151274242054
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 34141194538+750
Opponent Result Legs Playoffs Opponent Result Legs
Columbus Crew 7–3 4–2 away; 3–1 home Conf. Semifinals Real Salt Lake 5–0 0–0 away; 5–0 home
New York Red Bulls 4–3 2–1 away; 2–2 home Conference Finals Seattle Sounders FC 2–2 (a) 1–0 home; 1–2 away

Tournament Bracket

Knockout Conference Semifinals Conference Finals MLS Cup 2014
E1 D.C. United 0 2 2
E4 New York Red Bulls 2 E4 New York Red Bulls 2 1 3
E5 Sporting Kansas City 1 Eastern ConferenceE4 New York Red Bulls 1 2 3
E2 New England Revolution 2 2 4
E2 New England Revolution 4 3 7
E3 Columbus Crew 2 1 3
E2 New England Revolution 1
W2 LA Galaxy (a.e.t.) 2
W1 Seattle Sounders FC (a) 1 0 1
W4 FC Dallas 2 W4 FC Dallas 1 0 1
W5 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 Western ConferenceW1 Seattle Sounders FC 0 2 2
W2 LA Galaxy (a) 1 1 2
W2 LA Galaxy 0 5 5
W3 Real Salt Lake 0 0 0

Match

LA Galaxy2–1 (a.e.t.)New England Revolution
  • Zardes 52'
  • Keane 111'
Report
StubHub Center, Carson, California
Attendance: 27,000
LA Galaxy
New England Revolution
GK18Panama Jaime Penedo
RB20Guam A. J. DeLaGarza
CB4United States Omar Gonzalez
CB22Brazil Leonardo
LB14United States Robbie RogersYellow card 82'downward-facing red arrow 91'
RM24Sweden Stefan Ishizakidownward-facing red arrow 91'
CM8Brazil Marcelo SarvasYellow card 113'
CM19Brazil Juninhodownward-facing red arrow 96'
LM10United States Landon Donovan Yellow card 45+1'
CF7Republic of Ireland Robbie Keane (c) Yellow card 92'
CF11United States Gyasi Zardes
Substitutes:
GK12United States Brian Rowe
DF2United States Todd Dunivant
DF21United States Tommy Meyer
DF33United States Dan Garganupward-facing green arrow 91'
MF6Bosnia and Herzegovina Baggio Husidićupward-facing green arrow 96'
MF34United States Kenney Walker
FW9United States Alan Gordon Yellow card 113'upward-facing green arrow 91'
Manager:
United States Bruce Arena

GK22United States Bobby Shuttleworth
RB2United States Andrew FarrellYellow card 62'
CB5United States A. J. Soares
CB23Portugal José Gonçalves (c)
LB8United States Chris Tierney
DM6United States Scott Caldwelldownward-facing red arrow 58'
DM13United States Jermaine JonesYellow card 113'
RW10United States Teal Bunbury
LW11United States Kelyn Rowe
AM24United States Lee Nguyendownward-facing red arrow 90+1'
CF9United States Charlie Daviesdownward-facing red arrow 72'
Substitutes:
GK18United States Brad Knighton
DF25United States Darrius Barnes
DF30United States Kevin Alston
MF12Wales Andy Dormanupward-facing green arrow 90+1'
MF16Japan Daigo Kobayashiupward-facing green arrow 58'
FW7United States Patrick Mullinsupward-facing green arrow 72'
FW14Uruguay Diego Fagúndez
Manager:
United States Jay Heaps

MLS Cup MVP:
Republic of Ireland Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)

Assistant referees:
Peter Manikowski (United States)
Joe Fletcher (Canada)
Fourth official:
Armando Villarreal (United States)

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Seven named substitutes.
  • Maximum of three substitutions.

Statistics

Overall[2]
LA Galaxy New England Revolution
Goals scored 2 1
Total shots 16 16
Shots on target 6 6
Saves 6 4
Corner kicks 3 3
Fouls committed 20 14
Offsides 4 1
Yellow cards 5 2
Red cards 0 0

References

  1. Carlisle, Jeff (December 7, 2014). "Three Points: Los Angeles vs. New England". ESPN FC. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  2. "Boxscore – Player statistics". Major League Soccer. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
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