Los Angeles Football Club won the 2022 MLS Cup, their first in history, defeating Philadelphia Union 3-0 in a penalty-kick shootout after the game was tied at 3-3 after extra time. LAFC emerged victorious after a sensational back-and-forth game that saw five different goal scorers and three different lead changes prior to the penalty-kick shootout.
Kellyn Acosta opened the scoring in the 28th minute from a direct free kick to send Banc of California Stadium into a frenzy. The Union equalized after halftime when Dániel Gazdag controlled a shot from José Martínez and placed it into the roof of the net in the 59th minute.
Jesús Murillo looked to have the winner in the 83rd minute, only for Union defender Jack Elliott to equalize with a header off a free kick two minutes later.
In the 117th minute, LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau was issued a red card for denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and was also injured during the play, resulting in LAFC substituting in John McCarthy at goalkeeper.
BALED OUT
Elliott scored his second goal of the match in the 124’ that appeared to give the Union their first MLS Cup (Watch Here ). However, extra-time substitute Gareth Bale rose above the defense in the 128’ minute and headed home the game-tying goal, which was the latest in MLS history (including regular season and postseason), sending the game to a penalty-kick shootout.
Andre Blake saved the first shot in the shootout from Cristian Tello; however, Gazdag shot his over the crossbar for the Union.
Dénis Bouanga was the first to convert in the shootout, and McCarthy saved the Union’s next two penalty-kick attempts, denying Martínez and Kai Wagner from 12 yards out. With the opportunity to seal a championship for LAFC, Ilie Sánchez snuck his penalty kick under a diving Blake to earn the club’s first-ever MLS Cup trophy.