Hey, the 2014 MLS Cup final is this Sunday (3 pm ET), in case you haven’t heard, and in case you haven’t been following ProSoccerTalk’s MLS Cup Playoffs coverage for the last month-plus.
It’s been a long, long year, what with that whole World Cup thing right in the middle of it, and despite the fact the PST crew only has a few brain cells left to forecast Sunday’s finale, we’ve asked them to do it anyway. Also, we want your predictions as well, so leave the following, and anything else you foresee happening, in the comments section:
The score; the MVP; an unexpected hero who steps up; whether or not Landon Donovan will cry following his final game as a professional.
Joe Prince-Wright, lead writer & editor, PST:
Score prediction – LA Galaxy 2-1 New England Revolution
MLS Cup MVP – Landon Donovan (will bag the game-winner!)
Unexpected hero who steps up with a big game – Robbie Rogers, will provide a great outlet on the left, help keep Nguyen, Bunbury and Co. quiet
Does Landon Donovan cry in his postgame interview? – 100 % yes. And quite frankly, he can do whatever he wants!
Duncan Day, covering MLS Cup for PST in LA:
Score — Galaxy 2-1 Revolution
MVP — League MVP Robbie Keane caused the Revs problems earlier in the year (a 5-1 Galaxy victory), wouldn’t be surprised if he nets a beauty strike in this one.
Unexpected hero — Bobby Shuttleworth battled Brad Knighton in the beginning of the year, but he’s won the job solidly and has provided the Revs with above average goal tending lately. Expecting a great game out of him regardless of the result
Does Donovan cry? — Maybe a bit of sniffling.
Mike Prindiville, content creator, BPL on NBC:
Score — Galaxy 3-0 Revolution
MVP — Donovan
Unexpected hero — Gyasi Zardes
Does Donovan cry? — Wouldn’t be a first retirement if he didn’t cry.
Nicholas Mendola, contributor, PST:
Score — Galaxy 2-1 Revolution
MVP — A largely symbolic Donovan win, even though Zardes stars.
Unexpected hero — Juninho, who might be the most overlooked contributor on the team.
Does Donovan cry? — No. He peels back his skin to reveal he is a soccer cyborg created by Jurgen Klinsmann in order to torment the American media together.
Kyle Lynch, contributor, PST:
Score — Galaxy 2-1 Revolution
MVP — Donovan
Unexpected hero — Jaime Penedo comes up big in net for LA.
Does Donovan cry? — No.
Kyle Bonn, contributor, PST:
Score — Galaxy 3-1 Revolution
MVP — Keane
Unexpected hero — Robbie Rogers, after having his hands full with DeAndre Yedlin, shuts down Teal Bunbury to help keep the Revs attack at bay.
Does Donovan cry? — No, because he knows this isn’t his last game *maniacal laugh*
Andy Edwards, newest PST newbie:
Score — Galaxy 2-0 Revolution
MVP — What, nobody picked Leonardo or Tommy Meyer? Fine, I’ll go with Donovan, too.
Unexpected hero — Juninho, as the figurehead, for the work he and Marcelo Sarvas will do to slow down Lee Nguyen and Jermaine Jones.
Does Donovan cry? — Yes, and so does Bruce Arena.
