Hold those Galaxy scarves high in the air on Sunday, Real Salt Lake fans.
Laid out in front of you is one of these rare moments in which you can cheer for a side that isn't yours, not to mention a hated rival that ended your team's season in historic 5-0 fashion.
Should the L.A. Galaxy win its fifth MLS Cup title at home inside StubHub Center against underdog New England Revolution, RSL would clinch a berth in next year's CONCACAF Champions League tournament. The series of interesting breaks that would go RSL's way would be due to L.A. winning the Cup, Seattle having already clinched two avenues — the Sounders won both the U.S. Open Cup and Supporters' Shield — and D.C. United having clinched due to finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference. The next spot, since two are occupied by Seattle, falls to the club with the next best record. RSL finished with 56 points, one more than the Revs in the regular season.
So, there's your rooting interest, RSL supporters. Go nuts.
As for the match, it's shaping up as a 90-minute farewell to Landon Donovan — who can retire with another trophy — or the coming of age of a burgeoning Revolution side that's full of young talent.
That's the easy storyline when the teams meet Sunday at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.
There's more. The Galaxy were the league's best offense, paced by 2014 MLS MVP Robbie Keane, Donovan and breakout star Gyasi Zardes. They trounced RSL in Leg 2 of the Western Conference semifinal and survived a memorable match at CenturyLink Field in Seattle to dash the Sounders' hopes of an MLS treble.
They'll welcome in a New England side revitalized by the best midseason acquisition in the league. Midfielder Jermaine Jones, fresh off his fantastic performance in Brazil with the U.S. men's national team, joined the Revs in late August and has proven to be a missing piece in a midfield bulging with talent. Lee Nguyen had 18 goals and cemented himself as one of the league's best young players. Throw in the combination of Teal Bunbury and Charlie Davies up top and the Revs hit their stride late in the season, enough so to bounce Columbus and the rival New York Red Bulls en route to the final.
A key point to the Revolution's success in this game will be how they handle L.A.'s attack, whether it be straightforward or on the counter — which RSL fans know all-too-well is the best in Major League Soccer.
That's where Jones will come in. He wasn't part of the team when the Galaxy blitzed the Revs 5-1 on July 16, a game in which each side had a player sent off in the first 36 minutes. His role as a stopper in the midfield will be crucial to how New England recovers when the ball does turn over, and if the back line can handle the waves of attackers being sent its way.
Conversely, Davies, Bunbury and Nguyen will present problems for the L.A. defense. Davies's two goals in the second leg of the Eastern Conference final against New York sent the Revs through, which should come as no surprise. The forward is known to step up in big-time moments.
On the wide field at StubHub, don't expect a tight match. It'll be wide open.
Who will capitalize? We'll soon find out.
ckamrani@sltrib.com
Twitter: @chriskamrani
New England Revolution midfielder Jermaine Jones celebrates his goal during the second half of an MLS Eastern Conference Finals soccer match against the New York Red Bulls Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Harrison, N.J. The Revolution won the first leg of the finals, 2-1. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Seattle Sounders FC defender Deindre Yedlin, left, falls as Los Angeles Galaxy forward Robbie Keane goes after the ball during the first half of a Major League Soccer playoff game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New England Revolution's Charlie Davies (9) celebrates his goal against the New York Red Bulls during the second half of the second soccer game of the MLS Eastern Conference final in Foxborough, Mass., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. The match ended 2-2 and New England advanced to the MLS Cup with a two-game aggregate 4-3. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Revolution's Charlie Davies celebrates his goal with teammates, Teal Bunbury, left, and Jermaine Jones, right, against the New York Red Bulls during the second half of the second soccer game of the MLS Eastern Conference final in Foxborough, Mass., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. The match ended 2-2 and New England advanced to the MLS Cup with a two-game aggregate 4-3. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Revolution head coach Jay Heaps holds the MLS Eastern Conference Champion's Cup as he, Jermaine Jones, far left, Lee Nguyen, far right, and teammates celebrate after the second soccer game against the New York Red Bulls of the MLS Eastern Conference final in Foxborough, Mass., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. The match ended 2-2 and New England advanced to the MLS Cup with a two-game aggregate 4-3. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Revolution players, left, scuffle with New York Red Bulls players during the second half of the second soccer game of the MLS Eastern Conference final in Foxborough, Mass., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. The match ended 2-2 and New England advanced to the MLS Cup with a two-game aggregate 4-3. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Los Angeles Galaxy's Landon Donovan, right, kicks away from Seattle Sounders' Gonzalo Pineda (8) and Brad Evans, left, in the first half of the second leg of the MLS western conference final soccer match, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Los Angeles Galaxy players celebrate as captain Robbie Keane holds the western conference trophy after the Galaxy beat the Seattle Sounders in a two-game aggregate series, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, in Seattle. Sunday's match ended with a score of 2-1 in favor of the Sounders, but the Galaxy won the championship with a 2-2 two-match aggregate score and the advantage of an away goal, and will face the New England Revolution in the MLS Cup on Dec. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Los Angeles Galaxy captain Robbie Keane, right, hugs Landon Donovan (10) after the Galaxy won the MLS western conference championship, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, in Seattle. Sunday's soccer match ended with a score of 2-1 in favor of the Sounders, but the Galaxy won the championship with a 2-2 two-match aggregate score and the advantage of an away goal, and will face the New England Revolution in the MLS Cup on Dec. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan greets fans as he leaves the field after the Galaxy won the MLS western conference championship, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, in Seattle. Sunday's soccer match ended with a score of 2-1 in favor of the Sounders, but the Galaxy won the championship with a 2-2 two-match aggregate score and the advantage of an away goal, and will face the New England Revolution in the MLS Cup on Dec. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
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