In front of a SRO crowd in Frisco, Texas and after 90 minutes of a scoreless game and in the first 15 minute overtime period, L.A. Galaxy substitute midfielder Guillermo (Pando) Ramirez struck the winning goal on a rebounded punch-out from New England goalie, Matt Reis to give the Galaxy a 1-0 win, and the the Cup victory.
The victory is the Galaxy's second win in five attempts in the league final. The other came in 2002, when forward Carlos Ruiz slotted home a golden goal in the 113th minute against the Revs at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. It also completed the domestic double for the Galaxy, earlier winners of the U.S. Open Cup. They became the third team in MLS history to with both U.S. titles, the first since the Chicago Fire in 1998.
The Galaxy could have stretched the final margin of victory to two goals in the 25th minute of extra time, but Reis stopped point-blank shots from both Landon Donovan and Hercules Gomez after a counterattack.
Scoring Summary:
LA -- Guillermo Ramirez 1 (unassisted) 107
Los Angeles Galaxy -- Kevin Hartman, Chris Albright, Ugo Ihemelu, Tyrone Marshall, Todd Dunivant, Cobi Jones (Ednaldo da Conceicao 11), Paulo Nagamura, Peter Vagenas, Ned Grabavoy (Guillermo Ramirez 66), Landon Donovan, Herculez Gomez (Alan Gordon 12),
Substitutes Not Used: Pablo Chinchilla, Steve Cronin, Michael Enfield, Troy Roberts, Marcelo Saragosa, Josh Saunders
New England Revolution -- Matt Reis, Jay Heaps, Michael Parkhurst, Joe Franchino, James Riley (Ryan Latham 11), Clint Dempsey, Daniel Hernandez (Andy Dorman 91+), Shalrie Joseph, Steve Ralston, Taylor Twellman, Pat Noonan (Jose Cancela 64).
Substitutes Not Used: Connally Edozien, Jeff Larentowicz, Tony Lochhead, Ricardo Phillips, Luke Vercollone, Doug Warren
