LAFC Outlasts Philadelphia to Clinch First MLS Cup in Club History

The Los Angeles Football Club took home the MLS Cup in glorious fashion over the Philadelphia Union Saturday. After a 3-3 draw in regulation, LAFC got the upper hand in the subsequent penalty shootout. After securing a 3-0 advantage over Philadelphia in penalties, Los Angeles walked away from the championship game victorious.

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Both Los Angeles and Philadelphia had to overcome plenty of obstacles and hardships en route to Saturday’s championship matchup. Nevertheless, it was LAFC who came through for the win to secure their first MLS Cup in club history.

Kellyn Acosta, Jesús Murillo and Gareth Bale all chipped in with one goal each for LAFC. Dániel Gazdag opened up with a goal for the Union early in the second half, while Jack Elliott knocked in a pair of goals later in the game.

A Nail-Biter From Start To Finish

The match between the two teams was tightly contested from start to finish. At no point did either team lead by more than one goal. Los Angeles held a 1-0 lead at the end of the first half after Acosta scored at the 28-minute mark. However, Gazdag quickly evened things up with a goal of his own at the 59-minute mark.

At the 83-minute mark, Murillo appeared to put Los Angeles in the driver’s seat with another goal. Murillo’s score gave his squad a 2-1 lead with just seven minutes left in regulation. However, Elliott struck back just two minutes later with his first goal on the day. With the score now evened at 2-2, the game went into extra time.

LAFC suffered a major blow at the 109-minute mark, as goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau broke his leg in a collision with Philadelphia’s Cory Burke. Crépeau received a red card on the play, but he would not have been able to continue playing regardless.

With their starting goalie now out, Los Angeles had to turn to backup keeper John McCarthy. Things got off to a less-than-ideal start for McCarthy, as he gave up a goal to Elliott at the 124-minute mark. With Philadelphia jumping out to a 3-2 lead, LAFC’s backs were against the wall.

However, with just seconds to spare before the final whistle, Bale came through with a clutch goal at the 128-minute mark to tie the match back up.

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McCarthy Secures The W For LAFC

Despite some mistakes throughout regulation and extra time, LAFC looked nearly flawless during penalties. After the club missed their first penalty shot, Denis Bouanga, Ryan Hollingshead and Ilie Sánchez all scored on their kicks. McCarthy stopped all of Philadelphia’s penalty shot attempts, helping Los Angeles clinch a 3-0 advantage, and ultimately the match.

Due to his heroics during penalty kicks, McCarthy was named the MLS Cup MVP to cap off what some have called the “best MLS Cup” to ever be played.