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Player Ratings: Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake
Goal.com rated the player on show in the MLS final.
Nov 22, 2009 11:46:33 PM
SEATTLE - Player ratings for MLS Cup 2009.
Nick Rimando 7 - Little he could do on goal as defense left back unprotected on the first goal. Nails during the penalty-kick shootout as he was in conference final.
Robbie Russell 6.5 - Terrible marking on Magee's goal; seemed to make up for play with steady play in second half. More than made up for it by scoring decisive penalty kick.
Jamison Olave 6.5 - Physical presence; moved around field and made plays at different spots.
Nat Borchers 6.5 - Did his part in shutting down Buddle.
Chris Wingert 6 - Fairly effective play on left flank, though Galaxy's goal came from that side.
Will Johnson 5 - Early struggles resulted in yellow card. Came down with food poisoning, which may have led to his unbalanced play.
Andy Williams 6 - Missed Morales; not much use in playmaking role and off his from from previous playoff games; Williams, though, improved towards end of second half and in extra time as entire midfield seemed to settle down.
Kyle Beckerman 6.5 - Play continued to improve as game wore on; passing ability shined
Javier Morales N/A - Injured in 15th minute after a rough foul from Beckham, tried to stay in game, but had to leave game seven minutes later. Later diagnosed as a sprained ligament in his left knee.
Robbie Findley 7 - Best player on the field for both teams; goal was tougher finish than it appeared; a load for Galaxy's defense to handle.
Yura Movsisyan 5 - Should have done more with his opportunities; shot well wide of goal on Saunders minutes after goalkeeping change.
Substitutes
Clint Mathis 6.5 - Excellent touch and vision; broke down Galaxy's midfield, particularly in second half.
Ned Grabavoy 6.5 - Replaced Johnson at halftime; filled in admirably in midfield as he was active contributor.
Fabian Espindola 5 - Espindola-for-Movsisyan swap turned out to be ineffective forward for ineffective forward move; Espindola not impressive on the ball at all.
Los Angeles Galaxy
Donovan Ricketts 6.5 - Not at fault for goal; responded when called upon, including in play that led to his early exit; Ricketts charged off line to stop Findley and paid the price.
Sean Franklin 6.5 - Strong and solid play on right flank; moved effortlessly into central defense when Gonzalez left.
Omar Gonzalez 6 - Inadvertently hampered his own when he slid into Ricketts early in second half; left match in 89th minute with apparent injury.
Gregg Berhalter 6 - Solid play; Beaten a few times, but nothing came of it.
Todd Dunivant 5.5 - Fairly quiet on left flank.
David Beckham 5.5 - Most significant play was his foul on Morales that knocked him out of the game; perhaps cold weather and turf was affecting his bruised foot.
Jovan Kirovski 6 - Active and played aggressively in attacking third.
Chris Birchall 5.5 - Picked up yellow in 39th minute; defended well but was rather inconspicuous during match.
Landon Donovan 6 - Horrid PK attempt; did well in regulation though as well-placed cross led to Magee's goal; had tough time finding space in open field.
Mike Magee 5.5 - Goal was clinical finish set up by masterful service from Donovan; wasn't much of a factor aside from Donovan's moment of brilliance.
Edson Buddle 5 - A non-factor; seemed frustrated by RSL's physical play on him; had a few half-chances in second half but nothing worthwhile.
Substitutes
Josh Saunders 6.5 - Effective when called upon; did not show much, if any, jitters or rust despite not having played since Aug. 19.
Chris Klein 5.5 - Was not much of a presence along as a substitute; had looks on goal, but did not do well with them.
AJ De La Garza 6.5 - Like most of his performances this season, De La Garza was more than effective; locked down his side of the field for the most part as Galaxy did not suffer drop-off when Franklin moved to central defense.
Luis Bueno, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page.
Nick Rimando 7 - Little he could do on goal as defense left back unprotected on the first goal. Nails during the penalty-kick shootout as he was in conference final.
Robbie Russell 6.5 - Terrible marking on Magee's goal; seemed to make up for play with steady play in second half. More than made up for it by scoring decisive penalty kick.
Jamison Olave 6.5 - Physical presence; moved around field and made plays at different spots.
Nat Borchers 6.5 - Did his part in shutting down Buddle.
Chris Wingert 6 - Fairly effective play on left flank, though Galaxy's goal came from that side.
Will Johnson 5 - Early struggles resulted in yellow card. Came down with food poisoning, which may have led to his unbalanced play.
Andy Williams 6 - Missed Morales; not much use in playmaking role and off his from from previous playoff games; Williams, though, improved towards end of second half and in extra time as entire midfield seemed to settle down.
Kyle Beckerman 6.5 - Play continued to improve as game wore on; passing ability shined
Javier Morales N/A - Injured in 15th minute after a rough foul from Beckham, tried to stay in game, but had to leave game seven minutes later. Later diagnosed as a sprained ligament in his left knee.
Robbie Findley 7 - Best player on the field for both teams; goal was tougher finish than it appeared; a load for Galaxy's defense to handle.
Yura Movsisyan 5 - Should have done more with his opportunities; shot well wide of goal on Saunders minutes after goalkeeping change.
Substitutes
Clint Mathis 6.5 - Excellent touch and vision; broke down Galaxy's midfield, particularly in second half.
Ned Grabavoy 6.5 - Replaced Johnson at halftime; filled in admirably in midfield as he was active contributor.
Fabian Espindola 5 - Espindola-for-Movsisyan swap turned out to be ineffective forward for ineffective forward move; Espindola not impressive on the ball at all.
Los Angeles Galaxy
Donovan Ricketts 6.5 - Not at fault for goal; responded when called upon, including in play that led to his early exit; Ricketts charged off line to stop Findley and paid the price.
Sean Franklin 6.5 - Strong and solid play on right flank; moved effortlessly into central defense when Gonzalez left.
Omar Gonzalez 6 - Inadvertently hampered his own when he slid into Ricketts early in second half; left match in 89th minute with apparent injury.
Gregg Berhalter 6 - Solid play; Beaten a few times, but nothing came of it.
Todd Dunivant 5.5 - Fairly quiet on left flank.
David Beckham 5.5 - Most significant play was his foul on Morales that knocked him out of the game; perhaps cold weather and turf was affecting his bruised foot.
Jovan Kirovski 6 - Active and played aggressively in attacking third.
Chris Birchall 5.5 - Picked up yellow in 39th minute; defended well but was rather inconspicuous during match.
Landon Donovan 6 - Horrid PK attempt; did well in regulation though as well-placed cross led to Magee's goal; had tough time finding space in open field.
Mike Magee 5.5 - Goal was clinical finish set up by masterful service from Donovan; wasn't much of a factor aside from Donovan's moment of brilliance.
Edson Buddle 5 - A non-factor; seemed frustrated by RSL's physical play on him; had a few half-chances in second half but nothing worthwhile.
Substitutes
Josh Saunders 6.5 - Effective when called upon; did not show much, if any, jitters or rust despite not having played since Aug. 19.
Chris Klein 5.5 - Was not much of a presence along as a substitute; had looks on goal, but did not do well with them.
AJ De La Garza 6.5 - Like most of his performances this season, De La Garza was more than effective; locked down his side of the field for the most part as Galaxy did not suffer drop-off when Franklin moved to central defense.
Luis Bueno, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page.
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