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 But the small market teams do offer proof that the MLS model built
on a modest salary cap and competitive balance is working, adding
weight to commissioner Don Garber's boast that MLS will be
considered among the world's best soccer league's by 2022.
MLS's 18th championship game will be played in frigid temperatures
in a quaint state-of-the-art stadium in Kansas City that seats less
than 20,000 people in the American Midwest far away from the
mainstream media hubs.
With no marquee names such as the Red Bulls' Thierry Henry or
Galaxy's Robbie Keane to focus on, the spotlight will instead fall
on two teams with contrasting styles.
"My opinion it's going to be one of the best finals played, two of
the better teams in MLS," Kansas City defender and U.S. national
team member Matt Besler told ESPN. "It doesn't have the big names in
the league but that doesn't matter to us.
"It's two very deserving teams, two under the radar soccer cities."
Having finished with a better regular season record, Sporting will
enjoy home-field advantage and the rabid support of a soccer-mad
city that already hosted the MLS All-Star game and a U.S. men's
World Cup qualifier this year.
It will mark the third time Kansas City has played for the MLS
championship having won the title in 2000 when the team was known as
the Kansas City Wizards and losing in the final four years later.
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"This is a team that has figured out how to get
it right," praised Garber. "They have figured it out on the
field and have convinced us and everybody in the North American
soccer community that Kansas City is one of the great soccer
towns in North America.
"They have created an environment in that stadium that validates
our belief that America has really become a soccer nation."
Back in the championship game for the second time in five
seasons, Real will also be chasing their second title having
hoisted the giant silver cup in 2009 with a victory over David
Beckham and the Galaxy.
While Salt Lake plays a more attractive European style
possession game, Kansas City prefers a physical brand of
football relying on the league's top defense, led by Besler and
fellow national team member midfielder Graham Zusi, that
surrendered just 30 goals in 34 matches.
Zusi, who set a career high with six goals this season and
Besler, MLS defender of the year in 2012, were both named to the
MLS best XI for the second consecutive year on Tuesday,
underlining their status as keys to a KC victory.
The Sporting defense will be tested by Real's designated player
Alvaro Saborio, a member of Costa Rica's World Cup squad and a
lethal finisher who had 12 goals in 16 games for Salt Lake this
season.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Frank Pingue)
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