My Californian sources reckon that this is an old-age trick of MLS bosses advertising a slightly earlier kick-off time to ensure a fuller crowd looks good to the watching TV audience. Seriously.

Time for those already seated in the StubHub Center to throw another plasticky, mustard-smothered hot dog down their gullets.

No sign of kick-off at the superbly-named (but horribly corporate) StubHub Center in California. Think that's largely down to MLS organisers being rather loose with their time-keeping.

Opta Jack:, external LA Galaxy have not lost in 18 consecutive home games in MLS, winning 14 of these games and outscoring opponents 50-13.

Image source, Getty Images

Robbie Keane on LA Galaxy team-mate Landon Donovan, who will be retiring after the MLS Cup final: "We knew a year ago he was going to go so it's not like we found out two days ago. It's just business as usual.

"He is a fantastic player. The relationship that both of us have on the pitch meant both of us score and assisted each other with goals. There has been a lot so our understanding on the field has been great.

"If anyone deserves to go out on a high for what they have done for this league and the national team, it is certainly him."

Revolution, who beat the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference Championship, are competing in their fifth MLS Cup final.

However, unlike Galaxy, they are yet to win one. Among their four championship-game defeats are two to Galaxy - in 2002 and 2005.

Galaxy, who advanced past the Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference Championship, are competing in their ninth MLS Cup final - a league record.

LA have won the MLS Cup four times, which is tied with D.C. United for the most all-time.

Everton:, external Good luck Landon Donovan. What a career. End it on a high, lad! #OnceABlue

Image source, Getty Images

LA Galaxy striker Robbie Keane: "I certainly think people will probably see us as the favourites because we are playing in our backyard but it is a final and anything can happen.

"If we can concentrate and continue what we have been doing in terms of a philosophy of the way we want to play I think we will be OK."

One familiar name is one which is expected to be central to tonight's outcome - Galaxy skipper Robbie Keane.

The Republic of Ireland striker, 34, scored 20 goals in 33 games as Galaxy claimed the Western Conference title, meaning there was plenty of opportunity for MLS fans to se is trademark cartwheel celebration in full flight.

And his exploits also saw him crowned as the MLS's most valuable player.

I know exactly what you are thinking: "How did Galaxy and Revolution reach the final?"

Here's how. The MLS is split into two separate leagues - the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference. The top five teams in each section go into a play-off system, with the two victorious sides - in this case Galaxy and Revolution - meeting in the showpiece.

BBC World Service Sport's Richard Padula at the Stubhub Center: "The stadium is filling up nicely. A capacity crowd of 27,000 is expected. All very different from the early days of MLS. Ex-USA keeper Tony Meola has just been telling me about playing for Kansas City in 1999. No running water in the locker room, but that was the least of their worries. One thing the locker room did have was - mice!"

Image source, AP

It surprised me to read that Donovan, who also had spells with Everton and Bayern Munich, is retiring at the relatively young age of 32. I mean 32?! He's got at least another five years playing at the top level of MLS, surely. Here's why he has decided to call it a day...

"It has been a little bit different because I personally didn't know what was coming next but now I know," he says.

"I have been very excited every day to wake up and go to training. Candidly, I don't want it to end. It has been a lot of fun and I am going to have that attitude on Sunday. I want it to be as enjoyable as possible and that would be winning."

Said "greatest player in the history of US soccer" is, if you have not already guessed, Landon Donovan.

The 32-year-old forward is bringing the curtain down on his illustrious career tonight. He is the United States' all-time record goalscorer. He is the MLS's all-time leading goalscorer. And now he is bidding to win a record sixth MLS Cup.

If cheap brands of lager did fairytale finishes then this would be it...

Image source, Getty Images

Once upon time, the old joke aimed at US football was that legendary Motown singer Diana Ross could lay claim to being the nation's greatest player.

The same Diana Ross who infamously missed her perfectly-choreographed penalty attempt at the USA 1994 World Cup opening ceremony.

But that smug jibe, usually made by England fans who now realise their national team is no better than their cousins across the Atlantic, no longer applies.

"I would think his legacy would be that he left the game as the greatest player in the history of US soccer," says former US coach Bruce Arena. But of whom does he speak so highly of?

LA Galaxy: Penedo, DeLaGarza, Gonzalez, Leonardo, Rogers, Ishizaki, Sarvas, Juninho, Donovan, Keane, Zardes. Subs: Rowe, Dunivant, Husidic, Gordon, Meyer, Gargan, Walker.

New England Revolution: Shuttleworth, Farrell, Soares, Jose Goncalves, Tierney, Caldwell, Jones, Bunbury, Nguyen, Rowe, Davies. Subs: Knighton, Alston, Barnes, Dorman, Kobayashi, Fagundez, Mullins.

Howdy soccer fans! Wherever in the world you are reading, welcome to our live coverage of the MLS Cup final between LA Galaxy (those made famous by David Beckham) and New England Revolution (those made famous by, er, Steve Nicol).

Many of you might have a similar level of MLS knowledge roughly equated to that of a Southern State redneck. A Southern State redneck who doesn't have a television in his remote farmhouse.

So here's an explainer. This is the 'big one'. The season finale. The match which decides whether Galaxy or Revolution are crowned 2014 MLS champions. Geddit?

Image source, Reuters

Football, or should I say soccer, is now generally considered as the fourth most popular sport in the United States.

The big three - American Football, basketball and baseball - still attract the multi-million dollar sponsorships and the humongous television audiences. But soccer is catching up fast.

The performance of the US men's national team at last summer's Fifa World Cup, where they progressed from a difficult group that contained Germany, Portugal and Ghana, shook millions of Americans from their soccer-induced slumber.

Even US President Barack Obama watched their matches while on board Air Force One. But if you can't get to a television for tonight's MLS Cup final, Mr President, then we'd be honoured to have you along for the ride...