LA Galaxy Beats Houston Dynamo in Strange MLS Conference Final Game Interrupted by Blackouts

The MLS Western Conference final between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Houston Dynamo provided some unexpected drama as rolling blackouts affected the game not once, but twice. Yes, in a conference finals playoff game in the fifth biggest professional sport in the United States, the game play was delayed not once, but twice due, to a power failure. While this could have been a public relations nightmare for Major league soccer, it turns out that the blackouts were beyond the control of the Home Depot Center staff, as they were attributed to Southern California Edison, the regional power company, which noted that other businesses, as well as residents in the area, were also affected by the power outages. One can't help but wonder if stadiums for the NBA and NFL have backup power generators, in case such a thing were to happen during one of their events. I personally cannot remember an event for either of these leagues being delayed for a power outage.

The delays gave the game a somewhat muted feel, as energy of the crowd was diminished due to the long delays. Soccer is a game of attrition, with substitutions rarely taking place. It seems as if in this game, the extra breaks kept both teams sharp enough defensively to bring them to a scoreless as tie at the end of the game.

Major League Soccer may have scored a victory with the game going into overtime. What had been a strange game interrupted by the power blackouts was able to pick up intensity and fan enthusiasm as a result of the extra thirty minute period. Los Angeles capitalized on their fan's new found energy and scored twice in the overtime period, advancing to the championship game in Seattle.

David Beckham has been a controversial figure since coming to the Los Angeles Galaxy, only last year the team finished in last place. Now it appears, the "Beckham experiment", as it has been jokingly dubbed by some, has finally reached its full potential as the global icon will appear in MLS's equivalent of the Super Bowl. Featuring a much improved defense from a year ago, the Los Angeles Galaxy are sure to be a formidable opponent for whichever of the two remaining teams they face in the championship game.

Source: ESPN live broadcast of MLS Conference Final between Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy