What was the best game of the year?

Good afternoon folks. With the holidays upon us and New Year's around the corner, I couldn't help wondering what was the best soccer game I saw all year. There were plenty of candidates for the honor and picking one was downright impossible. I have some candidates I will discuss tomorrow.

For now, I want to hear from you, the SBI readers. What was your game of the year? What soccer game was the most exciting, entertaining, fulfilling and/or unforgettable? Was it the US-Mexico Gold Cup final? Was it AC Milan/Manchester United in last spring's Champions League semis? Was it Real Madrid-Barcelona when Messi dropped three? Was it when the U.S. Under-20 national team beat Brazil in the Under-20 World Cup? Was it the Red Bulls-Galaxy game, the one with NINE goals?

Let's hear them. Cast your (unofficial) vote for best game of the year in the comments section.

Fire away.

Comments

[Andy]

US-Mexico in the Gold Cup Final. I haven't enjoyed a US goal (Feilhaber's) that much since the US-Portugal match in WC '02.

[Jim]

Barcelona v. Espanyol, Madrid v. Zaragoza - two games played simultaneously to decide la liga.

[Jim]

Barcelona v. Espanyol, Madrid v. Zaragoza - two games played simultaneously to decide la liga.

[sublicon]

Red Bulls v. Galaxy - hands down. It was exciting, tons of goals and cliffhanger moments, AND we won. Boo-yah.

Fulham v. Tottenham - ended in a draw, but Kamara's bicycle kick equalizer made me lose my mind.

[Landis]

US-Mex in the GCF. Hands down the most exciting match for an American. I agree with Andy, most exciting goal since Portugal in '02.

[sublicon]

WHOOPS, sorry . . thinking of the season . . take back the Fulham one. The Fulham v. Liverpool game, when Dempsey scored the game winner and basically saved us from relegation. THAT was the moment. That's my #2.

[Tony in Quakeland]

I have to go with the Red Bull – Galaxy game. We were on vacation. I bought tickets more than a month in advance hoping that Beckham would be playing. I took my brother and his family to their first professional soccer game. The atmosphere of nearly 70,000 people totally into the game has turned my brother from a casual fan to an Fox Soccer Channel-watching fanatic.

It was just a blast.

[ahelms]

I'm with Andy. Gold Cup Final, no question.

[Adam Swift]

USA vs Brasil

NY Red Bull vs. Galaxy

Watched both at bars with friends, a good combo.

[Brian H]

Redbulls VS Galaxy

It was a rollercoaster ride!

[Aaron]

As an American soccer fan, I think the RBNY/Galaxy game gets the nod. Yes, it was a very exciting game with all the goals scored, but I am picking it more for what it meant in a larger context. I live in Atlanta, and had no rooting interest whatsoever, but watching that game I had a very palpable sense that the long-awaited arrival of soccer as a popular sport on this shore is finally happening. I think a lot of casual observers saw the same thing that night. I have a feeling that 20 years from now, when soccer stories are just as prevalent on Sportscenter as the NFL, MLB, and NBA, we will look back at that game as a tide-changing moment.

[Aaron]

As an American soccer fan, I think the RBNY/Galaxy game gets the nod. Yes, it was a very exciting game with all the goals scored, but I am picking it more for what it meant in a larger context. I live in Atlanta, and had no rooting interest whatsoever, but watching that game I had a very palpable sense that the long-awaited arrival of soccer as a popular sport on this shore is finally happening. I think a lot of casual observers saw the same thing that night. I have a feeling that 20 years from now, when soccer stories are just as prevalent on Sportscenter as the NFL, MLB, and NBA, we will look back at that game as a tide-changing moment.

[tyler]

the RBNY-Galaxy game was fun, but it certainly wasn't the best game of the season, and it certainly wasn't changing the course of soccer in America. it was a game made exciting thanks to bad defending by two teams who had otherwise putrid seasons. I know this blog is MLS-centric but some of you need to break out of your American bubble, because the best football in the world certainly isn't being played in our domestic league.

game of the year is a tough one, but I suppose I'll go with the England/Croatia Euro qualifier, or the US/Mexico Gold Cup final.

[Josh]

A game that only those of us in attendance would be able to speak on, but the best game for pure entertainment value was the FC Dallas-LAG Superliga.

[wendel]

Red Bulls Galaxy was for me by far the most fun game of the year. Beckham with two assists making his NY debut, Mathis breaks the record and equalize the game before have time, jozy's and angel's brace. it was a game i'll show my kids.

[Dominghosa]

1. US-Mexio in GCF
2. Galaxy-NYRB
3. US-20 vs. Brazil
4. Barca-Fake Madrid
I still have the top three games listed above saved in my DVR.

[Felix]

The three best that I saw are in no particular order:

- US/Mexico Gold Cup final
- Real Madrid/Barcelona Messi hat trick game
- 2nd leg of DC United/Chicago Fire playoff game

[kpugs]

Showing my extreme bias, Red Bulls 5-4 Galaxy. Mathis broke the team scoring record, tons of fans, and nothing was more fun than all the true fans heckling every Beckham-jersey-wearing sellout within earshot.

[A.S.]

Superliga Final - Galaxy vs. Pachuca.

Started off bad, but a hell of a lot of drama. And the Chris Klein bicycle was the best, most exciting play I saw al year.

[george]

galaxy vs pachuca superliga final.klein bicycle kick to draw l.a. even at the end of regulation was unfreakinbelievable!!!

[j]

what about the the FC Dallas v. LA superliga game with 11 goals?

[Brandon]

1. US/Mexico Gold Cup
2. US over Brazil - U20 World Cup
3. City over United 1 - 0 in the first derby this season.

[jevanvoo]

NY/LA, absolutely awesome game (the one at Giant's stadium, not the fiasco earlier in the year!);and NY v. Dallas when NY earned the record against the prior holder of same for the longest start of season with no goals scored against us.

[Metrohooligan101]

Red Bull vs Galaxy at giants stadium was by far the best game ive seen all year and yes i get gol tv, fox soccer channel, along with all the espn channels and this was by far the most entertaining and it was just a showcase of soccer, i live in orlando and i flew up for this and the previous red bull game vs toronto, and i had the time of my life!

[Carles]

Probably one of the early under20 games where Jozy and Adu were ON FIRE. And Stelezerton and Sizzo. What a great time!

<3 <3 <3