MLS Cup 2011: It Was Just LA Galaxy Soccer That Won the Day for Los Angeles

Forget about the pomp. Forget about the circumstance. Forget about the buildup and the fact that this was essentially a glorified home finale for Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy against Dominic Kinnear's Houston Dynamo.

MLS Cup 2011 was just another day at the office for the Galaxy.

And we have been seeing this all season from Los Angeles. Poor finishing, they someone score thanks to good old-fashioned perseverance, they add an insurance goal or two if they lucky, and then they close it out with a defensive clinic for the last fifteen minutes of so.

This game was a microcosm of how the Galaxy plays their brand of world football. After an absurd amount of attempts on goal, they get the break thanks to Landon Donovan in the 72nd minute, then they finish it out with the smothering defense that has been their calling card to secure 1-0 victory and Star Number Three for Los Angeles.

As I said, it was just another day at the office. It's nothing special. Just disciplined football and a technical style of attack that has been the Bruce Arena way. It worked during his time with D.C. United, and now it has come to fruition with the Galaxy.

The Dynamo have to be a very, very, very lucky team. They could have been put to the sword early had Adam Cristman dialed in three chances in the first half off of David Beckham deliveries (more on Becks later). In fact, Cristman's night was off enough to warrant him a yellow for his troubles.

Speaking of cards, I found it hilarious that Donovan himself would be cautioned late for time-wasting. I found it even more hilarious that Ricardo Salazar—of all referees—was the person that had to do it. Now I don't have anything against Ricardo—after all, he does share the last name as me and he earned the right to be the referee in the final—but this proves that he is no worse than any other official you see in this league, and boy are they bad.

Who knows how many goals Los Angeles could have scored this match? And another reason why I find this MLS Cup Final to be average is that Houston didn't really threaten at all on Sunday night.

Obviously, there are those who say that Brad Davis's absence proved to be the difference. But I maintain my argument that this is a Dynamo team that can win without Davis. I was looking for some buildup leading to an equalizer, but Omar Gonzalez, Josh Saunders and the defense treated the match as if it was just a regular season encounter.

The Dynamo were reduced to a whimper thanks to the Galaxy's defending, and I don't think, for a second, that David being in the lineup could have changed the dynamics or the outcome.

And to the Dynamo fans: do your beer-cup throwing at your own stadium that you will get to play in next year. Not at Victoria Street, unless you want to be banned for life. Mind your manners, residents of El Batallon and the Texian Army. Just saying.

But with every average day at the office comes perks. On any given day, there will be perks. (I'm not referring to the "Brian" variety, for the record.) And since this was MLS Cup 2011—the North American Carling Cup where you get stars above your logo for your efforts—there were plenty of perks.

Of all the people on the Galaxy team that wanted this more than anything, David Beckham easily stood out. This was someone who was crucified by Grant Wahl in his book "The Beckham Experiment," and a player that was in the last year of his contract, and needed to deliver.

Well, Grant, put this in your crack pipe and smoke it: David Beckham is an MLS Champion. He's a Comeback Player of the Year. And there's a chance that if he decides not to pursue a final curtain call in Europe or extend his expiring contract...this match may have been his final competitive contest for the Galaxy.

Note that I said "competitive contest" because the Galaxy's year is not over. More that in a little bit.

For Robbie Keane, the people at Tottenham Hotspur may be wondering if letting him go was the right option. Thanks to the Spurs' gift, Keane now owns an MLS ring in just months. Keane has not even competed a full calendar year with Los Angeles, and now he is getting the full treatment. Luck of the Irish? No surprise.

Omar Gonzalez might be given a look by some scouts from across the pond after winning the MLS Cup. Gonzalez put in another great effort on the backline, and because of it, his value as a defender skyrockets. A situation now might go along the lines of, "Good evening, Omar; this is Europe calling. Would you like to try out for [insert European club name here]?"

And what of Juninho? Since he is on loan, his future with Sao Paulo is still in the balance.

If the Galaxy can buy him out of his loan, the young Brazilian is sure to establish himself in the midfield for seasons to come. Juninho is a major reason why the Galaxy cruised to the CONCACAF Champions League Championship Round, and they will need his services for the long haul.

Poor Chad Barrett. Although he will finish the season as an MLS Champion, it's a bittersweet honor, having to sit out the match due to an injury during training. Cristman did all he could to fill in Barrett's shoes, but the lack of production on Sunday for LA is due in part to Barrett's injury.

The goalkeeper situation will need to be sorted out. Who will stay and who will go? Either Brian Perk or Donovan Ricketts may have to pack their bags and head for icy Montreal and join the Impact if they are not protected, because it is clear Josh Saunders will be the Galaxy's No. 1 netminder for the long haul.

As for Landon Donovan...the name, the player, the legacy speaks for itself. Now a four-time MLS Champion, it was only fitting that Captain America himself closed out the season with the final goal in MLS play for all 18 competing teams.

In the end, this was no ordinary day at the office. This was MLS Cup 2011, and LA Galaxy Soccer won the day for the league's best team. Plain and simple. This game now affirms the 2011 Los Angeles Galaxy as one of the greatest sides in the club's history, one that will be remembered for many years to come.

And even more impressive...the year is not even over. There's three more matches left to go. And they are all friendlies. The question now: will they be up for this?

Up next for the Galaxy is a match with the Indonesia Super League XI at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. Kickoff is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 12 a.m. PT.