MLS Final Week: Galaxy Claim Supporters’ Shield, But Edson Buddle Goes Scoreless

With rumors rampant that the Kansas City Wizards will be rebranded as Sporting KC as they move into their new soccer specific stadium next year, Birahim Diop seems intent on making sure the final game under the current moniker is one to remember.

The enigmatic forward scored his third goal of the match, the second MLS hat trick in as many weeks, on a wonder strike from just outside the penalty area. An San Jose own goal made the score 4-1 in stoppage time.

Omar Cummings continued his impressive recent form, scoring in the 17th minute to give the Colorado Rapids an early lead over Supporters’ Shield seeking Real Salt Lake.

Cummings goal, which came on a delivery from Marvell Wynne, was his ninth in his past nine matches. He now has 14 for the season and appears to be almost unstoppable since being paired with Conor Casey at forward, as opposed to playing on the wing in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

There was little reason to pay attention to the season finale for Toronto FC and DC United except for the chance to see Jaime Moreno play his final game in black.

And as he has so many times, Moreno delivered just what his fans were looking for. Moreno scored on a penalty in the 39th minute to give him 133 goals in his MLS career, at least temporarily reclaiming the all-time lead from Jeff Cunningham. Moreno also drew the penalty, firing a cross off the outstretched arm of TFC’s Julian de Guzman.

The Sounders jumped on top early on a 20-yard blast from James Riley — the defender’s first goal of the year — but were unable to build on that lead.

Geoff Cameron scored the equalizer on a beautiful run and Cam Weaver gave the Dynamo their first lead with a header in the first minute of the second half.

The debate has been raging for several weeks now: Does the current playoff system encourage teams to tank?

The Sounders, for instance, can find themselves seeded as high at No. 3 if they beat the Dynamo today. The can fall all the way to No. 8 if they lose. Finishing in eighth, though, is probably the easier path to the MLS Cup. It’s hard to make the argument that playing in the Eastern Conference, where none of the teams will have to visit Rio Tinto Stadium, is preferable.