Atlanta Soccer News: Art, Music and Culture: Head Coach Alex Pineda Chacon's former team, the L.A. Galaxy, emerged victorious on Sunday night in the MLS Cup final!

Checking in with Chacon: MLS Cup

Posted in Amateur, Mens Pro on Tue, Nov 22, 2011

The Los Angeles Galaxy emerged as MLS Cup Champions on Sunday night, defeating the Houston Dynamo, 1-0, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Viewers across the country watched the title game, but few spectators were as connected to the game as Silverbacks Head Coach Alex Pineda Chacón.
While Chacón’s banner year in MLS came with the Miami Fusion in 2001, he spent time playing for three other teams within the league, one of them being the L.A. Galaxy. The Honduran spent the better part of the 2003 season with this year’s MLS champions, and he liked what he saw from his former club on Sunday night.
“After watching the game, I can say that the Galaxy controlled it from the beginning,” Chacón said. “They created a lot of chances, and with the way Houston was playing and just hoping for a counterattack, you knew the Galaxy probably only needed to score one to win.”
The Galaxy did just that in the 72^nd minute when U.S. soccer icon Landon Donovan broke the deadlock, finishing past Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall for the game’s only goal. For Chacón, it was clear which team deserved the title.
“Houston had very little to say offensively, and if a few more chances fell the Galaxy’s way, the score could’ve been 4-0,” Chacón said. “In the end, they were fair winners and they played well enough to fully deserve the championship.”
Ever since David Beckham came into the fold in Los Angeles, the Galaxy has been made out to be somewhat of a “dream team” by MLS standards, but Chacón said the Galaxy’s roster was quite strong in his playing days as well. Chacón played in Los Angeles alongside celebrated teammates including Cobi Jones, Alexi Lalas, Sasha Victorine, Carlos ‘Pescadito’ Ruiz, and Mauricio Cienfuegos.
Sunday’s final took place in front of a sellout crowd of more 30,000 fans at the Home Depot Center. The Home Depot Center has been the Galaxy’s home base since 2003, and Chacón played in the first-ever MLS game there.
“I still remember that first game to this day — everything was so new,” Chacón said. “I got to see the stadium’s building process, and once it was finished, it was such an amazing place to play.”