Real Salt Lake: Findley gets shot at old team in Cup

Robbie Findley tried to say all the right things when he was shipped to Real Salt Lake a few summers ago, but there was always a hint of disappointment in the tone of his voice — and for good reason.

He was a promising rookie with the L.A. Galaxy, the self-proclaimed "super club" of Major League Soccer. He'd scored two goals in nine matches and was starting to carve out his own niche among the veterans as a valuable asset.

Plus, David Beckham was arriving in a few months, and the Oregon State graduate would soon be right in the thick of the hoopla.

So when he was traded to Real Salt Lake, a team in full-blown rebuilding mode under rookie head coach Jason Kreis, Findley was naturally a bit disappointed. One minute he was at the center of the MLS universe, and the next he'd been shipped into obscurity.

It's funny how things have a way of working out in the end.

During Findley's 2 1/2 years with Real Salt Lake, he's emerged as one of the best young strikers in MLS, and he's caught the eye of U.S. National Team coach Bob Bradley.

"It was a good trade. I think I've been pretty successful here," said Findley. "I still have some work to do to get better, but definitely being under Jason (Kreis) was a plus for me coming here."

This Sunday, his career comes full circle as Real Salt Lake takes on the L.A. Galaxy in the MLS Cup at Seattle, yet revenge is the last thing on his mind. The Galaxy brass who traded him away are long gone, as former coach Frank Yallop is now the head coach of San Jose, and former general manager Alexi Lalas works for ESPN.

"I'm not really thinking about (revenge), but rather what we have to do to win the game," said Findley.

A lot that success hinges on whether Findley keeps up his torrid pace. He scored twice in the regular-season finale against Colorado, he scored the crucial Game 1 goal against Columbus and then scored on a penalty kick against the Crew in Game 2.

He wasn't quite as clinical with his finishing against Chicago in the Eastern Conference championship, but he buried his penalty kick in the decisive shootout.

Findley finished tied for third in MLS this year with 12 goals, a significant increase from the six goals he notched in 2008. His roommate and teammate, Kyle Beckerman, believes it's all been about attitude.

"He's just been more vicious in front of goal. In the past two years, he could've had 10, 15 goals, but he wasn't vicious enough. Now this year, he took it to another level, and not many chances is he going to miss," said Beckerman.

Findley was vicious in his RSL debut back in 2007 by scoring twice against D.C. United, which helped slightly ease his frustration of going to a losing team in Utah.