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CARSON, Calif. -- Frankie Hejduk and Danny Cepero represent polar opposites in experience yet both will play in the MLS Cup for the first time Sunday when Hejduk's
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"It's been a long time coming," said Hejduk, who joined the MLS in its first season in 1996, then played five years in Europe before coming to the Crew in 2003.
In the process, Hejduk represented the U.S. in two World Cups and two Olympics, and played in the Champions' League for German power Bayer Leverkusen.
Cepero was a teenager supporting the Red Bulls' predecessors, the MetroStars, when MLS began.
"It's a dream come true," Cepero said Monday on a conference call. "It's been a point of pride for me having rooted for the MetroStars when I was younger. I'm having fun with it and enjoying the guys around me."
Until last month, Cepero never played in an MLS game.
He spent most of the season with the Harrisburg, Pa., Islanders in the United Soccer Leagues' second division. When Jon Conway and Jeff Parke received suspensions for steroid use, Cepero replaced Conway in the Red Bulls' net.
"Just before my debut, Jon had nothing but great things to say and wished me well," Cepero said. "That put me at ease and made me feel a lot more comfortable."
In that debut Oct. 18, Cepero became the first goalkeeper in league history to score a goal. He converted an 82-yard free kick in a 3-1 victory against, ironically, Columbus.
During the playoffs, Cepero stopped 14 shots -- including seven against Real Salt Lake on Saturday night -- in getting back-to-back shutouts on the road.
"I'd be lying if I said there was no pressure," Cepero said. "You can literally feel that pressure coming down on you in hostile environments. But withstanding that is a tribute to the mental strength that's so important at this level."
Before Cepero's heroics, Hejduk at right back joined midfielder Eddie Gaven to help the Crew control that flank.
"Their understanding and ability to cover each other has been outstanding," Crew coach Sigi Schmid said.
Hejduk attributes that success to superior conditioning.
"I take pride in trying to be physically fit year in and year out," he said. "I've always been able to try to run people into the ground and try to get them off their game by running them to death. That's been one of my main attributes."
Hejduk wants to use that attribute to achieve a long-sought personal goal.
"As you get older, you get less and less of a chance to win championships," he said. "Winning the Eastern Conference final was one of the most emotional times I've had on a soccer field.
"Just to win the cup, I can't even explain in words how that would make me feel."
