Winners
D.C. UNITED failed to reach the playoffs in three straight seasons after winning its third MLS title in 1999 and had a fourth straight losing season in 2003. But on Sunday, United climbed back on the throne with a 3-2 win in MLS Cup 2004 over Kansas City.
JAIME MORENO orchestrated D.C. United's attack in its win over Kansas City and became the first MLS player to win four titles with the same team. ALECKO ESKANDARIAN, MLS's No. 1 draft pick in 2003, when he scored just three goals, notched his 13th and 14th goals of 2004 in his team's MLS Cup win on Sunday.
KASEY KELLER saw his first English Premier League action of the season when he started his emergency loan spell for Southampton, which beat Portsmouth 2-1. The goal Keller conceded was an own goal. Meanwhile, Paul Robinson, who had taken Keller's starting spot at Tottenham, conceded five goals in a 5-4 defeat to Arsenal.
American winger EDDIE LEWIS scored his second league goal of the season for Preston North End. His 20-yard low blast after evading a pair of defenders gave Preston a 1-1 tie with Millwall in the second tier of the English league.
STEVE CHERUNDOLO came out ahead of his American counterpart and fellow University of Portland star Conor Casey when Hannover 96 downed Mainz, 2-0, in the German First Division. Casey had a goal called back after the referee called a foul on him that German media reports said was a misjudgment while Cherundolo gave a solid performance at right back for fifth-place Hannover.
Losers
KANSAS CITY's DEFENSE, whose 30 goals conceded in the regular season were the fewest allowed in 2004, had a rough MLS Cup outing against D.C. United. After left back Jose Burciaga gave the Wizards an early 1-0 lead with a 30-yard rocket, Nick Garcia allowed Alecko Eskandarian to turn on him for the first goal, Jimmy Conrad gave up the ball to Eskandarian on the second, and Alex Zotinca knocked Earnie Stewart's cross into his own goal on D.C. United's third goal.
D.C. United's DEMA KOVALENKO, who received a red card in the first game of the season, was sent off in his last game, MLS Cup 2004, for handling Jimmy Conrad's goal-bound shot in the 56th minute. It was the third ejection of 2004 for Kovalenko, who served a yellow-card suspension in the semifinal, but Kansas City failed to capitalize on its man-advantage after Wolff's penalty kick made it 3-2.
MANCHESTER CITY welcomed back Claudio Reyna after a two-month injury absence but mustered only a 1-1 tie with struggling Blackburn, which had Brad Friedel in goal. Reyna, who entered the game in the 65th minute, re-injured his thigh and is expected to be out until the New Year.