MLS Cup Final Player Ratings

COLUMBUS CREW

Hesmer 6.0 – Put under pressure early on but wasn’t forced to make any saves as New York wasn’t able to hit the target. Nothing he could’ve done on the goal.

Padula 6.0 – Failed to handle the speedy Richards in the first half – and suffered a slight knock for his efforts – but fought to the final whistle and was able to dominate the left side as the game wore on.

Marshall 7.5 – A defensive force even against the aerial powerhouse of Angel. His game-winner just minutes after New York had equalized turned the tide of the match and reinforced the 6’4” Marshall’s status as a major offensive threat. Bob Bradley should’ve been impressed enough to give Marshall a call in to the National Team.

O’Rourke 6.5 – Quietly put in a strong performance, that got stronger as the game went on. Had trouble with Angel when he dropped into the midfield, but was never beaten outright.

Hejduk 7.0 – The veteran had trouble with van den Bergh in the opening 20 minutes, then took control of the matchup. Showed his captain’s credentials to get the team back into the match, and made a supremely intelligent run behind the defense on his goal. Deft finish, too.

Rogers 5.0 – Despite his being named to the Best XI, Rogers’s youth and inexperience was evident from the opening whistle. He rarely got behind the slower Leitch and when he did, his final ball – both shots and crosses – strayed off-course too often.

Evans 6.0 – The Crew midfield was overrun in the first half, and Evans failed to make much of a difference. Ultimately, though, he battled to slow Ubiparipovic and Sassano enough to allow the Crew’s creative types to do their thing.

Carroll 6.0 – One of the Crew’s two previous MLS Cup winners, he had trouble connecting on his passes early on. But like Evans, eventually, began to slow New York down and dictate the midfield distribution as the Crew pushed for more attack.

Gaven 5.0 – Facing his former team, he was generally invisible, forced to defend van den Bergh and failing to get into the attack. Had one decent look at goal but his long-distance shot was easily saved by Cepero.

Barros Schelotto 8.0 – Shut down early on by Sassano, the Argentine finished with three assists. Fought off van den Bergh on the flank and released Moreno on the break for the opening goal. Struck a trademark pinpoint corner for the second goal. And rendered a masterpiece pass for the third, lifting the ball over the defense and onto Hejduk’s head. Fittingly, he was named MLS Cup MVP.

Moreno 7.5 – The Venezuelan did was he does best—a thorn in the side of the opposing defense all day. Made countless runs holding the ball up top, and did well to quickly read the counterattack and make the run behind the defense on the first goal.

Substitutions

Iro (91’) N/A
Lenhart (93’) N/A

NEW YORK RED BULLS

Cepero 5.5 – The feel-good story of the final should’ve done better on the first goal, reacting too slowly and then, despite getting a hand on Moreno’s shot, failing to push it around the post. Made the necessary saves the rest of the way and was not to blame for the other two goals. But really needed to stop that first one.

Goldthwaite 6.0 – The only Red Bull with an MLS Cup trophy of his own, he was calm on the ball and offered plenty of support to van den Bergh getting forward on the left side. But was also beaten by Marshall on the eventual game-winning goal.

Jimenez 5.5 – The Mexican was New York’s steadiest defender in the playoffs, but he must take partial responsibility for the first goal, failing to close Moreno down on the outside.

Mendes 5.5 – An indifferent performance, battling with Moreno and stepping into the midfield to challenge Schelotto. Didn’t hurt New York, but added little.

Leitch 6.0 – Picked up a silly yellow card in the 4th minute, but shut down Rogers the rest of the way. Got forward a few times and his crosses threatened in the area, but never quite found their target.

Van den Bergh 5.5 – The Dutchman did his thing early on, pushing the attack and pulling Gaven out of the game, but his crosses were not on the mark and he faded as the game went on. He was invisible in the second half.

Sassano 6.5 – He played with an injury, but did everything that was asked of him, clogging up the middle and challenging Barros Schelotto when the Argentine magician dropped into the midfield. Linked up nicely with Ubiparipovic in the first half, should only improve next season.

Ubiparipovic 6.0 – Also injured, he showed good touch on the ball and tried to run into space out of the midfield. But he disappeared as the game went on.

Richards 6.5 – Speed kills, and the Jamaican international’s wheels created two golden chances in the first half that were wasted by his teammates. He then conjured up New York’s goal, beating three people before slotting the ball to Wolyneic. Unfortunately, that was all he did in the second half as Padula imposed himself.

Angel 6.0 – A force in the air in the first half, his flick headers and knockdowns led to several threatening breaks. Had a gilt-edged chance on a one-time shot from 15 yards, but put it over the bar. The Columbian wilted in the second half, and badly wasted a freekick.

Wolyneic 6.5 – Classic opportunistic goal from the veteran journeyman (who spent time with the Crew). Banged around up top but his lack of pace or guile made it easy for Marshall and O’Rourke to shut him down.

Substitutions

Rojas (78’) 5.5 – Injected some energy in the midfield but the game was lost by the time he came on.
Khandji (82’) N/A

-- Goal.com