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Round One of the MLS Cup 2009 rematch between Real Salt Lake and the LA Galaxy certainly lived up to its billing as the Game of the Week, but unfortunately for your Claret-and-Cobalt the red-hot Edson Buddle couldn’t be slowed down, as his brace fueled the SoCal side to a 2-1 win at The Home Deport Center.
Buddle put the home side up with a header off a Landon Donovan corner just 12 minutes in, but RSL captain Kyle Beckerman would make sure things were even heading into the half, as his strike from nearly 30 yards out off a rebounded corner sneaked through traffic and bounced past Donovan Ricketts to even the match at 1-1 in the 40th.
Despite playing its third match in eight days, Real Salt Lake would find the better of its chances in the second 45, most notably when substitute Robbie Findley banged the left post with a rocket from the top of the area in the 65th minute, just minutes after he entered the match in place of Fabian Espindola. Both sides would continue to get their chances through the end, but it was only Buddle that would finish, his half-volley from 18 out slamming into the left side of goal to put LA out in front once again, this time for good.
Click below for the MLSsoccer.com recap of the match and some highlights from the marquee matchup of Week 4.
MLSsoccer.com Recap – LA 2 : 1 RSL
VIDEO: Beckerman’s blast from distance evens things up
VIDEO: Rimando says no to Juninho
VIDEO: Findley nearly makes a grand entrance
