The Los Angeles Galaxy host the Houston Dynamo in MLS Cup 2012 Saturday (4:30 ET on ESPN), as the Galaxy seek to be the third back-to-back MLS champions, joining D.C. United (1996-97) and the Dynamo (2006-07). Los Angeles is in its league-best eighth final and seeks to tie D.C. United's record with a fourth championship. The Dynamo are in their fourth final in seven years, looking to join United and the Galaxy as the only teams with three titles.

After six seasons, this will be midfielder David Beckham's last game with the Galaxy. He won a league title in his final season with both his previous clubs, Real Madrid and Manchester United. He has not yet announced whether or where he will play next.

The growth of MLS during Beckham’s six seasons in Los Angeles is undeniable. There were seven more teams and 11 more soccer-specific stadiums in 2012 than in 2006. The average league salary more than doubled, from $85,329 to $179,166, and attendance increased by more than 3,000 fans per game.

On the field, Beckham still has the goal-scoring touch from long range. He has a league-high seven goals this season from 20-plus yards, including four from direct free kicks. Beckham’s passing accuracy in dead-ball situations (corner kicks, direct free kicks) is still precise and dangerous. Between the regular season and playoffs, 22 of Beckham’s 56 chances created (i.e., passes that lead directly to shots) have come from dead-ball passing situations.

But Beckham has struggled with open-play crosses, seeing his completion percentage dip considerably since he injured his left ankle Sept. 1 against Vancouver. Beckham is just 3-of-35 on open-play crosses since the injury, including 1-of-29 in the playoffs.

Beckham will be the most famous player on the field Saturday, but he is far from the only important one.

Houston midfielders Brad Davis, who missed last year’s final with an injury, and Oscar Boniek Garcia, who joined the Dynamo in June, provide Houston with two creative assets who could trouble the Galaxy. Six of the Dynamo’s seven scoring chances from open-play crosses this postseason have come from either Davis or Garcia.

Davis led Houston with 12 assists and 69 chances created this season, 42 more than any other Dynamo player. The Honduran Garcia, who played his first game for the Dynamo on June 30 after he was signed as a designated player, has added additional potency to the offensive attack. Houston’s average goals (1.5), shots on goal (4.1) and chances created (9.0) per 90 minutes more than doubled with Garcia on the field.

The Dynamo will likely need their creativity to counter the torrid goal-scoring form of Los Angeles forward Robbie Keane, who is a huge reason the Galaxy are in position to win back-to-back MLS Cup titles. Keane leads the 2012 playoffs with five goals, and he has 18 goals in his last 23 regular-season and playoff games combined.

His partnership with Landon Donovan has been integral to Keane’s goal-scoring success. Donovan has assisted on nine of Keane’s 21 goals this season, including eight of his 18 goals in that 23-game span. Donovan has not looked like a player who is contemplating retirement after the MLS playoffs. He's been the Galaxy’s most effective creative player in the four games he has played this postseason, sharing the team lead with three assists: two from open-play crosses and one from a through ball.

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