Beyond the heightened level of players kicking and fans screaming, there are a lot of dynamics coming into play on and off the pitch as the Houston Dynamos take on the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer’s Championship Match Sunday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
History
First, they are among the most successful franchises in league history. The 2011 MLS Cup marks the seventh time the Galaxy have reached the final match. They’re hoping seven is lucky enough to bring them their third title.
With wins over Philadelphia and Kansas City, the Dynamo are in the MLS Cup for the first time since 2007 when they won their second of back-to-back titles. Houston also advanced to the West finals in 2009, losing at Los Angeles 2-0 in overtime.
Coaches
Secondly, these are two of the most successful coaches in league history. Houston’s Dominic Kinnear and Los Angeles’ Bruce Arena are each trying to become the first coach to earn three MLS Cup titles.
Kinnear led Houston to consecutive titles in 2006-7 while Arena did the same for DC United in 1996 and 1997 winning the league’s first two titles. The Galaxy’s Arena won this year’s Coach of the Year honors.
Key Injuries
Both teams have suffered blows, most notably to their scoring punch with two leading players out of the MLS Cup.
Houston’s star midfielder Brad Davis is out with a leg injury suffered in the first half of the Dynamo’s 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference Final.
Unquestionably, losing the team’s Most Valuable Player is a major blow to the Dynamo.
But as you might expect, coach Kinnear is putting his best spin on the situation.
“I think a lot of people might have sort of written us off at halftime during the Kansas City game, when Brad [Davis] got taken off, and I think we did OK. So you have to kind of play in the moment … We’re a good team with or without Brad. Obviously, we’d love to have him out there – it’s probably not going to happen, but the game is played in 90 minutes and lots of things can happen.”
LA’s forward Chad Barrett will miss the final with a dislocated right ankle. A main figure playing in 27 matches during the regular season, Barrett was the team’s second-leading scorer (7) behind Landon Donovan (12).
Awards
With the Galaxy enjoying the accolades that come with having the current Coach of the Year (Arenas), Comeback Player of the Year (Beckham) and Defender of the Year (Omar Gonzalez), how much will those awards mean if the Galaxy don’t not end up being TEAM of the Year signified by winning the MLS Cup Sunday?
The Unusual Suspects
While most eyes will undoubtedly focus on the Galaxy of stars like Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Robbie Keane, oftentimes it turns out that the difference maker in the title game is someone flying under the glamour radar.
Both Houston and Los Angeles have several.
Houston’s Andrew Hainault has grown to become arguably the team’s best defender, so look him to be in the mix trying to thwart any Galaxy scoring threats. Another terrific Dynamo defender is Jermaine Taylor. As a matter of fact, the Jamaican is probably the team’s top one-on-one stopper. Replacing the brilliant Davis on scoring runs, look for Adam Moffat and Corey Ashe to be in the center of it all when Houston gets on the scoreboard.
For the Galaxy, one need look no further than midfielder Mike Magee, who continues to seep through defenses with a league-leading three goals in the postseason.
In the net, Josh Saunders has not only filled in admirably for Donovan Ricketts, MLS’s 2010 Goalkeeper of the Year, (Saunders has been anchoring a team that allowed a league-low 28 goals in 34 regular-season games and had a record-tying 17 shutouts and a goals-against average of 0.82, the third-best mark in league history), but his steady play earned him the starting role and he’s been a pillar in the Galaxy’s build up to the final.
Bye Bye Beckham?
David Beckham may be about to write his own Hollywood ending with a chance to exit gracefully by helping his Los Angeles mates win a title.
Having enjoyed his best season since arriving in North America, David Beckham has been selected for the MLS Best XI for the first time, joining Los Angeles Galaxy teammates Landon Donovan, Todd Dunivant and Omar Gonzalez.
Now in the final season of a $32.5 million, five-year contract and having set personal MLS highs in starts (26) and assists (15) as the Galaxy finished with the league’s best regular-season record, is this the final MLS game for Beckham?
The Englishman has proven all year and more recently in the playoff run, that he is still very skillful as a creator of chances, an opener of defenses ranging from his free kick prowess and sliding tackles to brilliant crosses.
Remember this – Beckham made grand exits helping two of the most storied futbol clubs in the world to titles during his time with Manchester United and Real Madrid. 
While the veteran mid-fielder is mindful of his contract situation, he is focusing on the game at hand.
“I’m a Galaxy player right now,” Beckham said last Sunday. “I’m 36 years old and I still enjoy soccer. Right now we’re focused on the Cup. We don’t want to get too carried away. We did that a couple years ago and paid for it.” (losing to Real Salt Lake on penalty kicks).
Home Field Advantage
With the MLS Cup being played at the Home Depot Center, a venue where the Galaxy have not lost a game the entire season, all they need is one more win.
Those screaming fans can play a role.
But Galaxy mid-fielder Juninho knows the fans can do only so much from the stands. 
“Maybe we’ll have the crowd on our side, but we saw that doesn’t stop Houston from winning when they defeated Kansas City. So we must be well-prepared and in our best form going into this big game.”
Despite losing a major player in Davis, look for Houston to continue their stingy defensive play and try to break out off their proficient set piece strategies.
Winning four straight and six of seven, and extending their unbeaten streak to eight games, the Dynamo are arguably the hottest team in the league over the past two months and playing well when it counts most is what this or any grand final is all about.
On the other hand, led by the brilliant play of their spiritual leader Beckham in an exhausting 3-game, 8-day bi-coastal playoff whirlwind, the Galaxy are hoping their fans help fuel that special emotional fire that only comes from playing for the championship and that one last push making them temporarily forget their tired legs to be able to hoist the trophy at home.
