The MLS Multiplex on the FanSided Network is back with another installation to its series of reflections of the past 19 MLS Cup finals heading into the 2015 Major League Soccer season. In this segment, we look back at the 2010 MLS Cup Final between the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas. This was the third time that two teams from the same conference played in the same MLS Cup, and the second time that two Western Conference teams played in the final.
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A number of changes for the league took place this year. The 2010 season saw the league and the Players’ Union agree on a new 5-year collective bargaining agreement, meaning that the season started on time. The Philadelphia Union were the newest club that entered the competition, while the New York Red Bulls moved into Red Bull Arena, based in Harrison, N.J.
Clubs could now sign two Designated Players and could pay a luxury tax of $250,000 for a third. Landon Donovan, the face of American soccer in the modern age, was counted as a DP himself and became the Galaxy’s second DP. As a result of the new designated player rules, the league had 13 Designated Players at the end of the regular season.
FC Dallas were managed in 2010 by Schellas Hyndman and finished the 2010 regular season with a record of 12-4-14 (50 points), good for third place in the Western Conference. Dallas featured goalkeeper Kevin Hartman; defenders Zach Loyd, Daniel Hernandez, Heath Pearce and Eric Alexander; midfielders Dax McCarty (now with New York Red Bulls), George John and Eric Avila; and forwards Atiba Harris, Jeff Cunningham (whose goalscoring record would be broken in 2014), David Ferreira and current Orlando City swingman Brek Shea.
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FC Dallas opened their postseason campaign with a 3-2 victory on aggregate over Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference Semifinals. In the first leg, goals from Cunningham (44′) and Avila (88′) gave Dallas a 2-1 win over RSL at Toyota Stadium (then known as Pizza Hut Park) in Frisco, Tex. McCarty scored in the 17th minute in the second leg at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah for a 1-1 draw. In the Western Conference Championship at StubHub Center (then known as the Home Depot Center) in Carson, Calif., goals from Ferreira (26′), John (54′) and Marvin Chavez (73′) were enough for Dallas to storm past the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-0.
The Colorado Rapids were managed in 2010 by Gary Smith and came into the MLS Cup Playoffs with a record of 12-8-10 (46 points), good for fifth place in the MLS Western Conference. However, Colorado was placed in the Eastern Conference bracket along with the San Jose Earthquakes. Colorado were led by defenders Marvell Wynne and Drew Moor; midfielders Brian Mullan, Jeff Larentowicz (now with the Chicago Fire) and current Rapids manager Pablo Mastroeni; and forwards Quincy Amarikwa (also currently with Chicago), Omar Cummings (now with Houston) and Conor Casey.
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Colorado opened up their postseason against the Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The first leg saw Colorado prevail 1-0 on a 23rd minute strike from Pablo Mastroeni. Columbus would win the second leg at Crew Stadiun in Columbus, Ohio to the score of 2-1, with Casey forcing extra time in the 84th minute.
Under the away goals rule, the Crew would go through in regulation. Regardless, Columbus did advance anyway, winning a penalty shootout 5-4 while converting all of their spot kicks in the process. That set up a meeting with the Earthquakes in the Eastern Conference Championship at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo, marking the first time that both conference finals featured teams from the same conference; in this case, all of the participants were from the West. Kosuke Kimura’s 42nd minute saw the Rapids go though to the final.
MLS Cup 2010 was held on Nov. 21, 2010 at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont., the home of Toronto FC. This was the first-ever MLS Cup final held in Canada. Ferreira gave FC Dallas an early 35th minute lead, but Casey forced extra time in the 57th minute of play. An own goal from John in the 106th minute gave the Rapids their first-ever MLS Cup.