Omar Gonzalez savours 'emotional' MLS Cup triumph

LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez, described his side's MLS Cup triumph as "emotional" after scoring the equaliser in their 3-1 win over Houston Dynamo.

The match was billed as David Beckham's finale as he played his last game for the MLS outfit, but Gonzalez did his best to steal the show with an outstanding display that defied his previous injury struggles.

"I never thought for a second that when I made my comeback this season I'd be MVP in the final," the stopper said after the match. "It was a very emotional moment, after my injury I never thought I'd experience something like this.

"After my operation last winter I really had my doubts [if would get back to my best]. I was seriously wondering what kind of level I would be able to play at again.

"I know I'm back to where I was before the injury, but the best is yet to come."

The Texan suffered an injury to his left knee when on trial at Bundesliga club Nurnberg.

Cartoon of the Day: Hollywood ending for Beckham as curtain closes on LA journey

Does he write his own scripts? He must do, right? David Beckham ended his time in the United States by helping LA Galaxy triumph 3-1 over Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup final.

It meant the California franchise retained the MLS Cup for the second year running and ensured Becks left an indellible print on Major League Soccer after his five-and-a-half year association with the league.

Though he lived up to Los Angeles expectations with the happiest of endings - Beckham was substituted in the 94th minute to give him a chance to wave to the fans, hug his team-mates and indeed one 'unidentified fan' (Robbie Keane) - there is a sense that this isn't quite the end for the 37-year-old.

He admits he has "no idea" where he will move to for his final, final swansong, but you would not bet against him bringing just as much drama and theatre to proceedings - after all, he has now won the league title in his final year at Manchester United, Real Madrid a nd LA Galaxy.

LA Galaxy 3-1 Houston Dynamo: Dream end for Beckham as Robbie Keane completes scoring in MLS Cup victory

LA Galaxy retained the MLS Cup with a 3-1 victory over Houston Dynamos in David Beckham's final game for the club, with Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane scoring goals to seal the win.

Omar Gonzalez and Donovan scored within minutes of each other to overcome Calen Carr's 44th-minute opener for the Dynamos, and the Galaxy added a stoppage-time penalty from Keane to capture their second consecutive MLS Cup title and send Beckham out of MLS as a two-time champion with a 3-1 victory in front of a sell-out crowd of 30,510 at the Home Depot Center.

The Galaxy had their fair share of chances to get on the board earlier in the game but could not convert. Donovan missed the most golden of the chances in the 13th minute. Beckham picked out Keane down the left with a trademark long pass out of the back, and Keane set up the American perfectly from point-blank range. The Galaxy captain's first-time effort went wide of the mark though, as confetti cannons at th e Home Depot Center shot off in anticipation of the finish.

The Galaxy then had another great chance in the 20th minute, with Beckham serving a pinpoint free kick from the right to the far post, where Mike Magee's close-range header went over the bar. Keane then had an apparent-equalising goal waved off in the 48th minute after a redirected Beckham free kick was sent in Keane's path, but the Irishman was in an offside position as he fired past Hall.

Houston goalkeeper Tally Hall had punched away a Beckham corner kick, but the ball worked its way back to Sean Franklin and then to Juninho, whose perfect ball from the right to Gonzalez was headed home in the 61st minute.

The Dynamo had taken the lead through Carr just before half-time. Adam Moffat played the speedy forward down the right, where he beat Tommy Meyer for pace and was kept onside by Gonzalez. Carr took a touch toward goal and finished with a drive past Josh Saunders as Meyer tracked back to recover, giving Houston a huge momentum swing heading into halftime.

Carr had been out with a left hamstring strain, missing the Eastern Conference final series against D.C. United but regained fitness at a perfect time for the Dynamo. He had a would-be second goal robbed by Saunders, who dived to his left to snatch a point-blank header from Carr off a cross from Will Bruin in the 56th minute. He departed soon after with an apparent leg injury after colliding with Gonzalez, though, and the Galaxy promptly equalised moments later.

Donovan netted the second (his MLS record 22nd postseason goal and record fifth cup final goal) from the penalty spot in the 65th minute, after a scramble in the area resulted in a handball by Ricardo Clark. That came moments after Gonzalez headed home the equalizer off a cross from Juninho.

Keane got his in the dying seconds, though, earn ing a penalty on Hall off a breakaway and firing home from the penalty spot to seal the victory.

With the victory, Donovan has a record-tying five MLS Cup triumphs, Bruce Arena has an MLS-record four as a coach and the Galaxy tied D.C. United with a league-best four titles.

Keane fans flames in Kaka to LA Galaxy rumours

Robbie Keane has fanned the flames linking Kaka with a move to LA Galaxy, as the MLS club begin their search for a big name to replace the outgoing David Beckham.

The Brazilian playmaker has struggled to find consistent first-team action at Real Madrid, and the MLS Cup finalists would offer a potential outlet should the Real Madrid star seek a transfer.

"If we want to - as a team and an organisation - to push on and be the best that we can, to attract players like Kaka would be brilliant," Robbie Keane has told reporters at a press conference.

Rumours continue to link the 30-year-old away from Santiago Bernabeu. Kaka has largely failed to recapture his AC Milan form which saw him awarded the 2007 Ballon d'Or.

"Someone like Kaka was only voted one of the best players in the world a few years ago," Keane said. "We welcome anyone with his stature and his ability to the Galaxy, but ultimately it's down to the boss."

The 'boss' - AEG president Tim Leiweke - agrees with the Republic of Ireland international. The man who brought Beckham to Los Angeles is now batting his eyelashes at Kaka, and doing so publicly.

Kaka has frequently talked of his admiration of the United States. His brother, Digao, plays for the New York Red Bulls, and the best man at his wedding, Marcelo Saragosa, is at DC United.

"We're well aware of Kaka's interest in MLS, and we in turn have made it very clear to him that he's aware of our interest in him," Leiweke told Sports Illustrated.

"We have a great relationship with Real Madrid, and just as we worked through a player with them six years ago [Beckham], I'm absolutely convinced we could find the right deal this time, too."

Beckham would be a super signing for Monaco, says Ranieri

Claudio Ranieri has admitted that David Beckham would be a fantastic signing for Monaco, but insists he has not yet spoken to the 37-year-old about a possible switch.

The re-emerging French powerhouse have recently been credited with an interest in the former Real Madrid and Manchester United man, who is set to leave LA Galaxy at the end of the MLS season.

And when quizzed about whether the midfielder would pitch up at Stade Louis II at some point during the January transfer window, the Italian coach was enthusiastic about the prospect.

"About Beckham, I read and heard the same thing as you in the media," Ranieri told reporters.

Aguirre replaces Pochettino as Espanyol coach

Javier Aguirre has been named the new coach of Espanyol, taking over from the sacked Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine trainer had overseen a disappointing run of results that left the Catalan outfit bottom of La Liga with nine points from 13 games, and was dismissed on Monday.

And the club have wasted no time in appointing the former Mexico boss, who has signed a contract that expires at the season's end.

"Espanyol and Javier Aguirre have sealed a deal for the Mexican to become coach of the Blue and Whites until the end of the season," an official club statement read.

The Mexican, who has previous Liga experience with Osasuna, Atletico Madrid and Zaragoza, will get under way in the Primera Division with a trip to Granada on Sunday.

Thierry Henry to train with Arsenal in December ahead of possible loan return

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey Chief Correspondent

Thierry Henry will train with Arsenal next month and could return for a third spell as a player at the club, Goal.com can reveal.

Arsenal's all-time leading goalscorer has been told he can keep in shape at their London Colney training base during the MLS off-season.

Goal.com understands that there is a strong possibility that the informal situation could even extend into a second loan spell at the club where Henry enjoys legendary status.

Arsene Wenger wants to strengthen his squad with a new centre-forward in the window January and, as revealed by Goal.com last month, has made Atletico Madrids Adrian Lopez his top target.

However, if Arsenal cannot clinch a deal for the Spain international, they are considering turning once again to Henry, who has just completed his third season at New York Red Bulls.

The Londoners will lose Gervinho on Africa Cup of Nations duty in January for up to six weeks and doubt surrounds the future of Theo Walcott, even though progress has been made in his contract negotiations with the club.

Although no talks have taken place at this stage between Henry and Arsenal, he is regarded as a possible temporary solution to the clubs centre-forward problem.

The Frenchman, who turned 35 in August, had a fairytale seven-match return to Emirates Stadium at the start of the year, extending his Arsenal scoring record to 228 goals.

The striker returned to London last week after New York Red Bulls were beaten in the MLS play-offs to end their domestic campaign.

He was principally in the capital to spend time with his family but visited London Colney and was also at Emirates Stadium last Saturday to watch Arsenal beat Tottenham 5-2 in the north London derby

The Frenchman now plans to go on holiday before coming back to London in December, where he is se t to make full use of Arsenals training facilities on his return to maintain his fitness.

The former France international capped an excellent season for New York Red Bulls, which yielded 15 goals in 29 games, by being one of the three players nominated for the MLS most valuable player of the year award. Graham Zusi of Sporting Kansas City and the San Jose Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski are the other nominees.

Speaking in the summer about the possibility of another stint at Arsenal, Henry said: I would like to go back to England with Arsenal for sure.

I wasn't planning to go back to play last season. It was only because Gervinho and (Marouane) Chamakh went to the African Nations Cup.

I was there to train and they asked me if I wanted to play. Who knows what might happen in the future? I've not yet spoken to Arsene about it so I don't know what capacity I could go back in.

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