Seattle shines almost as brightly as Real Salt Lake

Published Nov. 25, 2009 1:30 a.m. ET

Jamie Trecker

The MLS season ended with a bang in Seattle Sunday night, with just over 46,000 people — the fourth-largest crowd in the Cup's 14-year history — turning out to see Real Salt Lake upset the Los Angeles Galaxy at Qwest Field 1-1 (5-4) on penalty kicks.

For one night, MLS — and by extension, American soccer — got what the sport's defenders on these shores have long felt they deserved — a legitimate big game in front of a wildly enthusiastic crowd.