Klein rides bicycle kick to highlight reel

Chris Klein can't help but look back on Wednesday's improbable bicycle kick goal and chuckle.

"I've never done that in my career," said Klein, the former Real Salt Lake midfielder who was traded to the L.A. Galaxy in June.

The highlight-reel goal came in second-half stoppage time of the SuperLiga final, with the Galaxy seconds from falling 1-0 to Mexican club Pachuca. During a scrum in the box, the ball popped in the direction of Klein about eight yards from the endline.

That's when instinct took over.

"It was sort of one of those things as athletes, we react to things," said Klein. "I would never think of trying that in training, or ever said it would've been possible, but when you see the ball above your head, there's only one thing you can do and it's that reaction."

His goal sent the game into overtime, even though Pachuca ended up winning in a penalty shootout to claim in the inaugural SuperLiga title.

"The whole game was sort of crazy," said Klein. "With all the chaos in the season, to be able to play in a final against one of the best teams in our hemisphere, to have it at home was great."

Saturday's match was Klein's first against his former team. RSL traded Klein to the Galaxy on June 21 in exchange for rookie Robbie Findley and second-year player Nate Sturgis.

JERSEY GATE: Shortly after arriving at the Home Depot Center Saturday night, RSL found itself in a bit of controversy with the L.A. Galaxy.

Thanks to a lack of communication between several involved parties, RSL only brought its white jerseys to California for the match with the Galaxy. That's fine against the majority of MLS as white is the designated road jersey. The Galaxy, however, have been wearing white jerseys at home all year and initially refused to wear anything but white for Saturday's match.

Eventually it was resolved, and the Galaxy wore their rarely used dark blue jerseys.

PRICEY SPECTATOR: David Beckham may not have been on the pitch thanks to his sprained right knee Saturday, but he was still at the Home Depot Center watching from the luxury suites.

Beckham is expected to be out six-to-eight weeks after injury the knee this past Wednesday, which means he'll miss the Galaxy's Sept. 19 visit to Rice-Eccles Stadium.

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL: RSL's reserves will be seeking their fourth straight victory today when they take on the Galaxy reserves at the Home Depot Center at 11 a.m. The reserves have evened up their record at 3-3-0 with three straight wins against New England, Houston and Chicago. The Galaxy reserves are 1-3-1 this year.

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com