LA Galaxy hosted the MLS Cup final against Houston Dynamo in a rematch of last year when Galaxy won 1-0.
Houston took the lead at the end of the first half through Calen Carr, but a storming second-half performance saw Omar Gonzalez, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane score, the latter two coming from the penalty spot.
It meant Galaxy won the MLS Cup and David Beckham ended his career in the league on a winning note.
Read how the action unfolded below with Sports Mole's live commentary.
Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of the MLS Cup final.
It's a rematch of the final last year that LA Galaxy won 1-0, which certainly suggests that these two have been the most consistent teams in the MLS over the last couple of years.
David Beckham has been hogging the attention in the build-up to this game after announcing it would be his final game for the Galaxy.
It will be his 103rd game in all in his five years at the club. The MLS certainly has a higher reputation than it did in 2007 and the former England captain has surely had a big impact on that.
It will also be the last game for retiring Brian Ching for Dynamo - a former Galaxy player. He may not start, but depending on how the game is going he's expected to get some time on the pitch to bid farewell to both sets of fans. He has 155 appearances for Houston since joining them in 2006.
Galaxy are the hot favourites tonight, but Dynamo have many players capable of upsetting the odds. Will Bruin up front did not have a great game in the Conference final, but he is a striker full of pace who likes to play on the shoulder of the defence.
Let's not forget Brad Davis too. He missed the final in 2011 due to injury and was cited as a bit reason Dynamo did not create much that day. He's got a wicked set-piece, which means we have two on the pitch tonight with Mr Beckham too.
Andy Cole - remember him? - has wished his old pal Becks luck in his final Galaxy game on Twitter: "all the best becks top-man". Short, yes, but sweet too, I suppose.
Perhaps key for the Galaxy tonight - aside from Beckham, Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan of course - could be Omar Gonzalez. The centre-back is oftentimes an immovable object at the back and if he wins some early aerial battles he could give his side the edge.
Teams are in...
First up, Galaxy XI: Saunders; Franklin, Gonzalez, Meyer, Dunivant; Wilhelmsson, Beckham, Juninho, Magee; Donovan, Keane
And their substitutes: Perk, Sarvas, Stephens, DeLaGarza, Buddle, Noonan, Gaul
Fans of European football will recognise some big names there. Christian Wilhelmsson has played in Serie A, the Premier League and La Liga. Donovan has impressed on loan at Everton and you have Keane and Beckham, of course.
Another player I really like is Juninho. Not of Middlesbrough or Lyon fame, unfortunately, but he's a similar diminutive, tricky central midfielder.
Now for the Dynamo XI: Hall; Sarkodie, Taylor, Boswell, Ashe; Garcia, R. Clark, Moffat, Davis; Carr, Bruin
So Davis, the skipper, does start and there is only one change from the team that started the semi-final second leg against DC United.
Calen Carr replaces Macoumba Kandji up front alongside Bruin.
Here are the Dynamo substitutes: Deric, Hainault, Kandji, Weaver, Camargo, Barnes, Ching
Ching does have to settle for a place on the bench in his last game. Will he get his moment to shine? Yesterday Ching summed up his reasons to retire: “Mentally you’re still capable, but physically you’re not capable. "I don’t know if I’m capable of doing a full 90 at this level any more.”
Less than half an hour to go until kick-off now, I suppose I should put my money where my mouth is and make a prediction. I think Galaxy will take it, but it will be close, perhaps 2-1. Naturally, Beckham to score a free-kick as a parting gift to the MLS. Maybe...
Houston have really hit form throughout these playoffs. Remember, they just scraped out of the Eastern Conference in fifth place, a single point above Columbus Crew. Since then they've scored for fun and they could do damage tonight.
Galaxy themselves were far from dominant in the regular season. They came fourth in the Western Conference, but they were 15 points clear of slipping out of the playoff spots.
As both sides finished out of the top three it meant they had an extra playoff round to navigate. LA beat Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1, while Dynamo beat Chicago Fire by the same score.
Ten minutes to go.
It's not just Beckham and Ching who might be playing their last Galaxy game. There has been talk of Donovan - at 30 - calling it a day. Surely this can't be the case? He's still capable of playing at a very high level.
Fireworks are being set off,, which are covering the ominous looking dark clouds here. Dynamo to kick off...
Here we go!
Chance for Houston! Carr passes to Clark and Saunders parries away.
A decent early sight of goal for Houston as they show they aren't afraid of taking the game to the Galaxy Galacticos.
It's still all Dynamo. Saunders loosely deals with a cross with a poor punch before a weak clearance, and Dynamo work a corner.
Wilhemlsson is played through over the top by Beckham but Hall is out quickly to save.
Beckham crosses but Boswell is there to head away for a throw, as Galaxy start to get into the game. Donovan hits a half-volley on the turn but it's easily gathered by Hall.
Bruin looks to latch on to a forward pass with his pace, but this time Saunders does well to get there first.
A handball is given against Donovan, with Wilhelmsson lurking in a good position for the pass.
Miss from Donovan! Text-book 60-yard diagonal pass from Beckham to Keane, who cuts across to the free Donovan. He somehow puts it wide of the post!
Houston break through Carr and Clark, but Gonzales heads away firmly.
Dangerous cross from Beckham almost splits Hall and Boswell, but the centre-back manages to get enough on it and no Galaxy player is close enough to pick it up.
Chance for Dynamo! Ashe crosses for Carr, but it's a tricky volley from near the edge of the box and goes high and very wide.
Wilhelmsson is brought down on the corner of the box. Beckham steps up to swing it in...
Chance for Galaxy! It's a delicious delivery from Beckham and Magee meets it but heads it into the ground and over the bar! A great chance gone begging.
Free-kick goes against Wilhelmsson who nips in behind Boswell and is adjudged to have fouled the big centre-back. It certainly wasn't a penalty.
Good defending from Gonzales as he got his head on a deep Ashe cross and Saunders gathers.
Close for Juninho! Excitement gathers as the ball comes to the Brazilian from outside the box. He shoots but it's seen wide by Hall.
Save by Saunders! Sarkodie bursts through from right-back, cuts inside and forces Saunders to tip the ball over. Good work from Dynamo.
A really poor pass from Wilhelmsson is cut out before he can find Franklin on the overlap. He really should have done better. It's not been a great half so far for the Swede.
The game has hit a bit of a lull. The ball is being passed about in midfield and then given away as either side looks to break into the final third.
Gonzales again defends well as Ashe looks for Clark.
The two Galaxy chances are still the best of the game, and they really were good chances. Franklin, not for the first time, miscontrols and runs the ball out of play.
Dynamo win a corner after good work in the middle from Garcia, forcing Gonzales to put his pass behind.
Gonzales again clears for a corner, this time from a Davis cross.
Dynamo are getting on top of this now. At least in terms of possession and crosses. However there's no way past Gonzales so far.
Galaxy try to break. Donovan passes to Keane but he is tackled by the Dynamo defence. They haven't clicked just yet.
A spell of possession for Galaxy ends with Juninho looking for Keane, but it's good defending from Boswell.
GOAL! GALAXY 0-1 DYNAMO (Carr)
Taylor finds Carr over the top, who has beaten the offside trap. He gets in the box and fires past Saunders at his near post! First blood Houston.
LA Galaxy 0-1 Houston Dynamo
Well. LA might have had two of the better chances so far through Donovan and Magee, but Houston have dug in and taken the lead at a fantastic time right at the end of the half. They've had more shots at goal and more corners, but that was the only real chance they mustered. Still you have to take your chances if you are to win cups.
What can Beckham, Donovan, Keane et al muster in the second half?
While we wait for the second half, have a read of Callum Mulvihill's report of the first-half action here.
The teams are back out, we're almost set for the restart.
Galaxy get us back underway!
Houston with the early pressure in this half, looking for a second. Wilmhelmsson wins a free-kick on the right for Beckham to take.
Goal disallowed! Beckham's free-kick is nodded on by Meyer and Keane lashes it in, but he was offside.
Beckham's pass is intercepted by Boswell, who has played well.
Chance for Houston! Garcia is found in behind by Clark but his cross is headed clear. If he drills that there's a chance of an own-goal.
Chance for Galaxy! Superb drilled ball by Beckham to Keane, who cuts past Ashe and tries to pull back to Donovan but it's cleared for a corner. Beckham's passing has remained top-class.
Good goalkeeping there by Hall. Juninho tries another ball over the top - of which Galaxy have attempted plenty - to Donovan, but Hall is out to clear.
Chance for Dynamo! Carr gets his head on a cross from Bruin. It's low but comfortable for Saunders.
The Dynamo defence is playing such a high line now that Hall is almost a sweeper-keeper. He's playing it well, though.
Franklin crosses from the right and it's handball against Ashe. Good position for a Beckham free-kick. Carr is off for Kandji in the first substitution.
GOAL! Galaxy 1-1 Houston (Gonzales)
A series of crosses comes in which Houston deal with, but Juninho swings one in and Gonzales leaps high to loop it into the far corner!
Gonzales has defended well this game and now he's had a say up front. He's a huge presence for Galaxy, who are well on top now. Another corner here...
Disallowed goal Galaxy! It was an early whistle and given against Gonzales, who really didn't look to have done anything wrong! Keane turns and tucks it in but the whistle had gone. Looked harsh to me.
Boswell is booked for bringing down Keane. He can have no complains. Houston are clinging on.
PENALTY FOR GALAXY!
Gonzales won another header in the box. It pings around and Clark handballs.
GOAL FOR GALAXY! Galaxy 2-1 Dynamo (Donovan)
Donovan sends Hall the wrong way and the turnaround is complete! I can't look beyond them now.
Galaxy continue to have more possession, what can Houston do to get back in this?
Beckham is back in his own box to tackle Kandji for a corner. He's working really hard in his final game.
Substitution for Houston. Giles Barnes is on for Moffat.
Dynamo with a lot of possession in the last few minutes, but Galaxy are holding firm at the back.
Substitution for Galaxy. Wilhelmsson comes off for Edson Buddle.
Ching looks ready to come on for Dynamo. He might have 15 minutes to have a say in his last MLS game. Juninho comes off for Michael Stevens and indeed Ching does come on for Sarkodie, an attacking change.
Chance for Dynamo! Bruin works space near the byline and aims for Kandje, who knocks it wide. Had he seen Davis there that was a real chance for an equaliser.
Close for Keane! Keane jinks and turns at the edge of the box and shoots, but it's side netting only.
Chance for Keane! Great run and Keane gets into the box, but his effort is well held low down by Hall.
Chance for Dynamo! Ching mishits a shot and it falls to Bruin, who turns and fires low but Saunders holds it comfortably.
Chance for Galaxy! And there was his chance! Beckham finds himself at the far post on the end of a dropping cross, but cannot make contact. Hall just did enough to put him off.
Really end-to-end stuff now. Houston are as likely to equalise as Galaxy are to finish it off.
Close for Ching! The striker is 20 yards from goal but goes close with a fizzing low shot. Not far wide.
Gonzales heads a cross behind his own goal and Houston have a late corner.
Chance for Houston! The cross is cleared as far as Davis, who swings in a cross for Clark. He gets good contact on the header but it's straight down the throat of Saunders.
Keane wins a free-kick 30 yards out. Good run again from the Irishman. I wonder if Beckham will shoot here?
Yellow card for Donovan, who took too long over a throw.
PENALTY FOR GALAXY! Keane was played in by Magee, he rounded Hall who took him down.
GOAL FOR GALAXY! Galaxy 3-1 Dynamo (Keane)
Keane takes the kick himself and LA Galaxy have wrapped up the MLS Cup for the second year running. Beckham comes off to a rousing reception! Handshakes all round and the fans are on their feet. Fantastic five years in the league.
LA Galaxy win the MLS Cup! LA Galaxy 3-1 Houston Dynamo
That's all from me. David Beckham finishes his MLS career with a win in the MLS Cup. In truth, Galaxy deserved that, they were too good in the second half. Good night!
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
