At the risk of appearing slightly Beckham-obsessed (and it’s fair to say that The Ed is), Sporting Fare just HAS to comment on the MLS Cup final. Played last night between David’s LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake, the score after 120 minutes stood at 1-1. A penalty shootout later – in which Beckham put away his spot kick – and it was RLS that stood triumphant, winning it 5-4.

That doesn’t tell the full story however. It was a night of high drama in Seattle, with a fairytale for one team and, in the end, heartbreak for one Englishman.

And what about that news that Beckham could end up owning an MLS team in his own right?!

LA Galaxy enjoyed much of the play in a first half that was slow to get going, gradually building the pressure on RLS until Mike Magee finally scored after coming close previously. Beckham fed Landon Donovan, who had come close himself earlier on, and the MLS Most Valuable Player took his time before crossing for Magee to finish at the far post.

It was no less than Galaxy deserved and they went into half time looking confident, while RLS looked shaken. Whatever was said in the dressing room by RLS manager Jason Kreis changed all that though.

The second half was very much Salt Lake’s as Galaxy became more and more defensive, determined to hold on to their slim lead instead of pressing for more. A Beckham freekick straight into the wall was about the best they offered and when, just a couple of minutes later, RSL were denied a possible penalty you began to think it was Galaxy’s day. RSL were having none of it.

Robbie Findley picked up a loose ball in the LA box and finished with his left for the equaliser in the 64th minute. During the melee in front of goal LA ‘keeper Ricketts was injured and replaced by Josh Saunders. Only then did Galaxy wake up and a string of crosses from Beckham looked dangerous. Salt Lake defended well and held on to the final whistle, also having a couple of chances themselves, with Saunders saving brilliantly from a Mathis freekick in particular.

Extra time beckoned and though RLS had the better of it, neither side could make the breakthrough. Penalties then, and more heartbreak for Beckham. Desperate for his first trophy in the States he took LA’s first penalty and put it away well. Saunders, proving the most capable of substitutes, saved two spotkicks but it wasn’t to be. RSL midfielder Robbie Russell put away the final kick to give his side their first ever title.

Looking back at the game, it was a thriller as far as US football goes and a good advert for the game over there. Congratulations go to the much deserving Real Salt Lake. But back to Beckham.

He joins AC Milan in January to continue his bid to stay fit and claim his place in the England squad for next year’s World Cup. Three years into a five year contract with LA Galaxy, he has a couple of years to continue his record of winning a trophy with every club side he has been at, but the fact is he isn’t getting any younger. Will he be guaranteed a spot in the Galaxy side for those two remaining years?

You can’t deny he is supremely fit and, with no disrespect to the American league, he should remain one of the best players available to Galaxy for at least that long. AC Milan are said to be delighted that they can use his talents for the remainder of the Italian season. Things look good for Beckham. What intrigues Sporting Fare, however, is the news that Beckham has the option to purchase the 20th MLS team.

The League currently has 15 teams but that is set to grow over the next few years, with Philadelphia, Portland and Vancouver joining soon and Montreal looking to become the 19th. Beckham’s Galaxy contract gives him the option to invest in an MLS team and he has already spoken of his desire to own a team.

MLS commissioner Don Garber confirmed: “David has the option for our 20th team and that option can’t be exercised until after 2011 or after he stops playing. So we’ve got some time to figure that one out.”

It would be an interesting option for Beckham once he finally hangs up his boots and underlines his desire to grow the popularity of the sport in the States. We can’t wait to find out how that progresses.

More immediately though – how disappointed is David with Galaxy’s defeat? We’ll leave the last word to him:

We all want to win titles and personally I’d love to be successful. But I think we have been successful this year without winning tonight, we have quietened a few people along the way which is always nice but we couldn’t finish it off. I wouldn’t say it’s tougher to lose on penalties but it’s Russian roulette, that’s just the way it is. It’s not a nice way to lose. The people that step up are brave enough to step up and if you score, great and if you miss it’s hard to take, but it just wasn’t our night.