Takeaways from MLS Conference Finals

MLS marketing mavens, your dream final is secure. Star power vs. star power as David Beckham and Kyle Beckerman will face each other next Sunday in Seattle. Ok, that concept is a bit of a stretch, as the best draw when comparing those two players is their unique hairstyle -- one consistent in his recent career, the other just bizarre. Bet you can guess who I'm referring to.

Whenever this point of the MLS season is reached, debate across the Internet -- because, let's face it, few papers cover the league -- over the merit of having conferences, the way the league table is set up, etc comes to the forefront, especially with two conference opponents facing each other once again in the final.

Based on merit, it's a fair result in both games. While the Houston-Los Angeles battle was marred by two 18-minute power outages, not to mention Terry Vaughan ruling out a Dynamo goal, claiming that the Galaxy don't deserve to be in the final isn't quite a just claim. Galaxy's dynamic duo in defense, Omar Gonzalez and Gregg Berhalter, came up as big as they needed to be to secure a clean sheet.

Berhalter's goal in extra time was the icing on the cake of a stalwart performance badly needed after the Galaxy backline looked a tad shaky in their first encounter with Chivas USA. Houston did well to challenge them when they could, and fortune wasn't on their side when Brian Ching was whistled for a foul on Andrew Hainault's goal. Minutes earlier, Ching missed by inches, denied by a combination of Donovan Ricketts and the crossbar.

Houston was barely held at bay, going close on those chances. In truth, it was cruel to see it all go wrong in extra time. Ricardo Clark, who had an excellent game that will either help punch a ticket to South Africa or a new club overseas, then fouled Alan Gordon on two occasions -- the first resulting in a free kick that Berhalter knocked in, the second was in the box, leading to Landon Donovan's game-clinching penalty. Fair to say the Dynamo can feel a bit hard done by, though credit can go to the Galaxy for holding on.

Bitter finish in Bridgeview

The Fire fans once again brought the heat at Toyota Park. Unfortunately, Nick Rimando rose to the occasion and navigated his side through penalties and into the MLS Cup. 

Credit again to RSL for going to the road and attacking the host. Yura Movsisyan moved into the starting lineup, replacing Fabian Espindola up top. Movsisyan and Robbie Findley troubled the Fire defense all night, and the visitors should have held a 2-0 lead at the half. Unfortunately, for all the crisp passing in the midfield, Movsisyan and Findley each spurned a first-half chance that could have proved costly. Though Jon Busch deserves plaudits for coming out to snuff each chance as well.

Brian McBride almost punished RSL for their wastefulness, connecting with the post in the second half. Still, the game's intensity peaked in the second half as both sought that coveted opening goal -- the one that never came.

Denis Hamlett threw everyone he could think of at RSL's somewhat-brittle backline, but the Nat Borchers-Jamison Olave combination refused to capitulate. A performance like this one sums up the claret-and-cobalt's season: wastefulness in front of the net, ability to string together significant stretches of possession, and a bend but not break defense. Despite backing into the playoffs, RSL has certainly played like they belong.

On the loser's side, speculation over several Fire players -- including their coach -- will now reign supreme in the Windy City. Disappointing that the Blanco vs. Beckham dream couldn't be come a reality, but there's still the Beckham vs. Beckerman joy to behold.

A few more thoughts from the conference finals:

*Both games featured great atmospheres, though Chicago's was the pick of the weekend. Thankfully, New England did not triumph against the Fire -- 10k at Gillette wouldn't have been as exciting. Saturday's atmosphere in Bridgeview was once again a perfect advertisement for the league and the potential of fans in this sport.

*Demise of Denis? Prior to the playoffs, the future of Denis Hamlett's coaching career in Chicago was shrouded with clouds. Now that the Fire have crashed out short of the MLS Cup, Hamlett jumps to the top of the list of coaches on their way out the door. With Preki rumored to go to Toronto, could Tom Soehn return to Chicago?

*Goal-scoring centerbacks. Everyone loves a centerback that scores. It's a scientific fact, after all. And the duo of Berhalter-Gonzalez not only held Dynamo at bay (just barely), but they also teamed up to open the scoring in extra time. Gonzalez flicked Beckham's free kick back into the danger area, and when Houston failed to clear their lines, Berhalter poked home the game winner.

*Blanco has no gas left in the tank. Maybe it was the toll of a busy regular season combined with international duty, but whatever it was, left a mark on Cuauhtemoc Blanco at the end of this one. It would come as no surprise if that was his last game in a Fire uniform.

*Take a bow Mr. Rimando. In all my years of watching football, I've never seen a keeper handle penalties like Rimando did on Saturday. His ability to read the Fire penalty takes is worth watching again on the highlights -- particularly on John Thorrington's spot kick.