US Open Cup Final

2006 LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP FINAL
CHICAGO FIRE v LOS ANGELES GALAXY
Sept. 27; Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill. (7 p.m. CT; FSC)

So, here we are at the final of the US Open Cup, or as some others call it, the "Late Summer Cup." We have two MLS clubs; one that is already bound for the playoffs and another that might go from winning the MLS Cup to failing to make the playoffs. This match is one clubs way of salvaging something from a uneven season and another clubs way of starting what could end up a double domestic championship.

This match up is one of those "odd" ones. You have Chicago, who has been knocking people off left and right in the league, including the Galaxy this last weekend. They are playing at home, where they have a combined record of 11-4-3 (excluding their 2-1 loss to Club America). The fire have won 10 out of their last 13 matches, only losing two of those. Needless to say, the Chicago Fire are a tough club to play, especially at home. So why is it I am going to pick the LA Galaxy to win?

The LA Galaxy are the defending Chumps of this tournament. They had a so/so season last year, pulled off the USOC win, and rolled through the West to win the MLS Cup. Assuming they can make up the 6 points separating them from the Colorado Rapids, we just might get a replay of last season. LA rolled through the USOC matches, knocking off Cinderella (FC Roma) and adding the Rapids and the Dynamo to their list of victims. Frankie West Coast has them playing pretty good soccer right now, with Donovan doing what he failed to do in Germany, which is score goals.

As these two clubs just played each other in Chicago on Saturday, it isn't like the two clubs will have any type of line-up secrets. The Galaxy are a very explosive and dangerous club, as any DC United fan can attest to, watching them obliterate United 5-2 at RFK last month. With the only real way to guarantee anything positive from this season boiling down to tonight's match, I have to give the edge to the Galaxy.

Prediction: LA Galaxy 3 - 1 Chicago Fire