By Steve Almasy, CNNSI.com

The Galaxy got an early indication the Earthquakes were going to be a good team this season when San Jose took a three-goal lead on the way to a 3-2 victory on opening day. Los Angeles was shocked by the new-look 'Quakes. Heck, everyone in the league was.

But I'll be stunned if the Quakes can beat the Galaxy on Sunday.

Los Angeles is playing with more heart right now than any of the teams that made the playoffs. It's the biggest reason the Galaxy are in the final. You want passion? Watch the way Cobi Jones, Luis Hernandez and Paul Caligiuri are playing. The Galaxy want it more.

There's more to it than that. Jones is playing good ball despite the physical attention he has been drawing, especially when he gets on the wings and goes at a defender 1 v. 1. Wade Barrett is in for a long day. And while Luis Hernandez plays so-so for 88 minutes, it's those two minutes of greatness that can lead to Galaxy goals. That's what poachers do.

Having a hot goalie helps, and Kevin Hartman has been well above average lately. He's even making remarkable stops with his feet. Having Olympian Danny Califf playing his best of the season should help keep Landon Donovan off the board.

The Galaxy don't overwhelm you on paper (or Web browser), but just like Sasha Victorine and Peter Vagenas, they get the most of their ability. That's called guile, and Caliguiri is the definition of it. He's a professional's professional. For him, it's his next-to-last match before heading off to be a collegiate coach. I say he leaves a champion.

By Jeff Green, CNNSI.com

The only treble the Los Angeles Galaxy take home this year will be their third MLS Cup loss in as many tries.

The Buffalo Bills of MLS broke their duck in big games by winning the CONCACAF title early this year, and they will play for the U.S. Open Cup on Oct. 27. But the Alan I. Rothenberg will be heading to Northern California after Sunday's championship match in Columbus.

The third time will not be charmed for L.A., as MLS's remaining team of destiny, the San Jose Earthquakes, will finish their Cinderella run by defeating the over-achieving Galaxy. The Quakes, dead last in the league in 2000, will follow in the path of Kansas City, who last year went from worst in the West, and second-worst overall, to MLS champion.

The Quakes have already beaten the team that played the league's best soccer in 2001 by taking out the Fusion in the semifinals. First-year coach Frank Yallop's squad is the only team to win a playoff series this year in two games, steamrolling the Crew in the quarterfinals.

The high-pressure San Jose team defense -- with the leauge's defender of the year in Jeff Agoos, sentimental favorite in comeback player of the year Troy Dayak and runner-up goalkeeper of the year Joe Cannon -- allowed fewer goals than any other team in the regular season (29), and did even better in the playoffs (two goals in five games).

With workhorse Richard Mulrooney, steady Ronnie Ekelund and danger-man Manny Lagos (an injury concern) controlling the middle, the Quakes also have the top playoff offense (11 goals). And just stopping leading scorer Landon Donovan (four goals) won't be enough.