Extra Time Own Goal Sees Colorado Rapids To First Major League Soccer Title

So would we really want the match to end like this? Yes, Rapids fans. I hear you, but let’s put your bias aside. Even though this has been a turgid match, do we really prefer a 108th minute own goal deciding the MLS Cup? Wouldn’t we just take penalty kicks? Again?

Kandji was injured on the play and is now in the Colorado locker room, with the Rapids playing down a man for the last moments of the match.

We’re 15 minutes from penalty kicks. Again.

Just as Colorado had the better of play in the first half be had the worse of the scoresheet, Dallas was the better team in the second half. Yet it was Colorado that scored the only goal of the period, sending the MLS Cup final into extra time ties at one.

The match now goes to extra time: two, 15 minute periods. If nobody leads after half an hour, MLS Cup will be decided by penalty kicks for the second season in a row.

They staged some protests during the season, but nothing quite like tonight where TFC fans walked out en masse around halftime.

The result is a second-half with lots of empty seats and an atmosphere that’s decidedly tempered, despite the reporting of this as a sellout.

The match at BMO remains tied, 1-1.

There seems to be a growing tendency, especially in MLS, where referees seem to feel that non-calls are better than bad calls.

Usually, this comes in the form of not wanting to give penalties or second yellows. We’ve seen multiple examples during the MLS playoffs, the latest of which came tonight.

It was the type of build-up you’d draw on a chalkboard. Long diagonal to the wing. Wing with a cross to the edge of the six. One man at the near post, one man at the far - take your pick. Martin Chavez picked near, and David Ferriera put Dallas up, 1-0.

The play started at the feet of left back Jair Benitez, with the Colombian played in 45 yard ball across the pitch to right wing Chavez. Three touches from the Honduran and no pressure from Colorado allowed the winger to swing a ball to the edge of Matt Pickens’ six. The Colorado keeper came but couldn’t beat David Ferreira to the ball, the attacking midfielder redirecting the cross into an empty net. After 36 minutes, Dallas had the lead.

As with most penalty shouts, there are two sides to the story. A camera along the byline saw Casey seemingly kick-out for contract with Benitez. Just as it was unclear that Benitez made contact with his left leg, it was unclear Casey touched Benitez. Still, Casey went down and appealed, unsuccessfully.

Dallas had had their own penalty appeal denied 10 minutes earlier, with Brek Shea brought down in the Colorado area. In general, Dallas has been less responsive to the physical nature of the game.

There’s definitely been a feeling out period for Dallas and Colorado, MLS’s title aspirants fighting through a cold night in Toronto. Both teams have set-up their formations as expected, with Colorado able to maintain the better part of the first 10 minutes’ possession.

With the referee calling very few fouls, the match has taken on a rugged, defensive tone. Now in the 17th minute, MLS Cup is still scoreless.

The big question facing the Rapids heading into this game was whether Jamie Smith would be healthy enough to start. It looks like he is.

For Dallas, the big questions was whether they’d go with Atiba Harris up top or give Jeff Cunningham a start. Harris will start.

SB Nation Soccer will be bringing you live coverage throughout the night, keeping you up to date on all the happenings. Television coverage begins at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN, Galavision, and TSN2. The technophiles amongst us can tune in on ESPN3.com.

ESPN has brought out he big guns for tonight’s commentary, pulling Ian Darke and Steve McManaman off English Premier League duty to be in Toronto. Whatever they don’t cover we’ll be sure to discuss here, where the SB Nation editors will keep you up today on Major League Soccer’s main event.