LAFC vs. Philadelphia Union score: Wild MLS Cup goes to penalty kicks as LAFC

In what may go down as the greatest MLS game ever and easily the most entertaining MLS Cup in history, LAFC are first-time champions, defeating the Philadelphia Union in penalty kicks on Saturday. 

The game finished 2-2 at the end of regulation and 3-3 at the end of extra time, resulting in penalty kicks where the hosts won 3-0, despite having gone down to 10 men in extra time. The Union didn’t convert any of their three penalty attempts with LAFC backup goalkeeper John McCarthy saving two. McCarthy, a Philadelphia native who played for the Union from 2015-18, was named MLS Cup MVP. 

It’s LAFC’s first MLS crown in their first final appearance.

Philly, thanks to two goals from center back Jack Elliott, looked set to beat the hosts and favorites LAFC in extra time at Banc of California Stadium. Things, however, were far from over, with Gareth Bale coming off the bench to head home the equalizer to force penalty kicks.

LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau was shown a red card in the second half of added time for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, suffering what appeared to be a serious injury in the process, and the visitors took advantage of being a man up with Elliott’s second goal.

Philly were only in position to take that late lead because they twice came back from a goal down to level it, countering Kellyn Acosta’s first half goal with a Daniel Gazdag one just before the hour mark and then Jesus Murillo’s go-ahead goal in the 83rd minute with Elliott’s header in the 85th minute. And then Elliott was there to clean up a loose ball in front of goal in the 124th minute to silence the home crowd and seemingly win the title with the latest goal in MLS playoff history. But it was not to be as LAFC’s Bale shoed up with the heroics, leveling the match and sending it to penalties despite his team being down a man.

The six goals in the final are the most since the 2003 title game between the San Jose Earthquakes and the Chicago Fire. Coincidently, that was also the last time the two No. 1 seeds made the championship match

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