
<p>Los Angeles Football Club win the Major League Soccer Championship with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Philadelphia Union. A victory that secures the first championship in the club’s history.</p>



<p>After 130+ minutes, the match ended in a 3-3 draw. Ultimately, Los Angeles defeated Philadelphia 3-0 in a penalty shootout. A standing ovation of 50,000 exuberant fans in Los Angeles celebrated “the greatest MLS match of all time.”</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MLS CUP CHAMPIONS. 🏆<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForLosAngeles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForLosAngeles</a> <a href="https://t.co/7Mww0AKMTx">pic.twitter.com/7Mww0AKMTx</a></p>— LAFC (@LAFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LAFC/status/1589030971718119424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h5>Top Seeds Contest championship game</h5>



<p>For the second time in Major League Soccer (MLS) history, the top seeds clashed in the MLS Cup Final: Los Angeles Football Club versus Philadelphia Union – expansion teams that joined the league in 2018 and 2010, respectively. <br><br>During the 2022 season, LAFC and Philadelphia faced off once before in an exciting game that mirrored the championship game ending in an epic 2-2 draw.</p>



<h5>MLS CUP – Los Angeles Football Club vs. Philadelphia Union</h5>



<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/01/03/cherundolo-takes-over-as-lafc-head-coach/">Steve Cherundolo’s</a> 4-3-3 confronted Jim Curtin’s 4-3-1-2 formation. </p>



<p>From the get-go, the ‘dale’ leitmotif reverberated throughout the Banc of California Stadium. Early doors, players jostled in a fight for glory. A vibe that would permeate the entire match. <br><br>Defender Ryan Hollingshead lured his opponents with hesitating backsteps, only to pounce after feigning restraint, thus intercepting the ball. Then, Hollingshead charged down the wing as a right back, creating an attack as a box-to-box player. <br><br>Further, 6’6″ Englishman Jack Elliott conceded a yellow card for the Union in the 14th minute. Carlos Vela owned his space as a right forward, employing his signature style: dipping in crosses with his dominant left foot. <br><br>Both sides secured their third. However, Philadelphia’s kryptonite was the late challenge that resulted in a set-piece for LAFC. In the 27th minute, Vela and Kellyn Acosta lineup for a free kick. In a brilliant display of deception, Acosta scores the dead-ball, 1-0. <br><br>Then, in the 42nd minute, the end-to-end action was awe-inspiring. Nigerian American defender Sebastien Ibeagha prevented Philadelphia’s counter with a phenomenal tackle; Acosta followed suit for a clearance. LAFC blitzed, leading to Vela’s breakaway down the flank, assisting Chicho Arango for a shot that barreled over the crossbar. </p>



<h5>2nd Half Of Play</h5>



<p>In the 59th minute, Philadelphia leveled the score on a set-piece. Then, Daniel Gazdag equalized the match, 1-1. This was his second goal of the season at Banc of California Stadium. The Hungarian ‘attacking midfielder’ was responsible for Philadelphia’s opening goal against LAFC back in May. <br><br>Nevertheless, Jesús Murillo proved to be a ‘big-game player;’ his first career MLS goal came in the 83rd minute on a ‘looping header’ off a corner kick, 2-1. <br><br>Then, just minutes later, Philadelphia countered with a header off a set piece. Jack Elliott comes through in the clutch, 2-2. At this point, the Union’s two shots on target were capitalized as goals. </p>



<h5>Extra Time</h5>



<p>Vela dropped deep on two plays with ‘through-balls’ for Denis Bouanga. Then, the Welsh legend <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/09/21/gareth-bale-gains-confidence-fitness-after-time-with-lafc/">Gareth Bale</a> entered the field in the 96th minute as a substitute for the Mexican captain. <br><br>Instantly, Bale made his presence known with a ‘chest trap’ followed by a one-touch volley into the box – a missed opportunity created for Jose Cifuentes. <br><br>On the other end, Julián Carranza leaped up for a header that went wide of the goalmouth. After that, Cristian Tello countered; the former Barcelona winger cracked a shot from outside the box, saved by goalkeeper Andre Blake. <br><br>In the 109th minute, after an egregious ‘back-pass’ by Murillo, goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau charged outside for a ‘one v one’ against the Jamaican forward Cory Burke. </p>



<p>Unfortunately, Crépeau’s bravery caused a collision resulting in grueling injury. As a result, the Canadian goalkeeper was issued a red card and substituted for John McCarthy. Nevertheless, LAFC fans applauded Crépeau’s sacrifice, as he was stretchered off the pitch.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So much drama in the MLS Cup Final…<br><br>➖115th minute<br>➖GK red card<br>➖Big injury<br>➖2-2 score<br><br>PENALTIES INCOMING. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLSCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLSCup</a></p>— Jake Barford (@BFordLancer48) <a href="https://twitter.com/BFordLancer48/status/1589024336048173059?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Then, Julián Carranza’s header off a cross was saved instinctually by McCarthy. However, an unmarked Jack Elliott scores a sitter off the deflection, pinning Philadelphia ahead, 3-2. <br><br>Finally, LAFC would retaliate. Diego Palacios’ throw-in led to a ‘give &amp; go’ with Ilie Sánchez. Palacios’ rapid dribble to the byline followed with a cross into the box. In ever-dramatic fashion, Gareth Bale – the 6’1″ Welshman – leaped over the 6’6″ Englishman Jack Elliott. </p>



<p>The Welshman extends upward seven feet, burying the ball behind Blake. As a result, Bale pierced a ‘looping header’ into the goalmouth, displaying aerial mobility. </p>



<p>The scores were tied at 3-3 at the end of extra time and the game went to a penalty shootout.</p>



<h5>Penalty shootout</h5>



<p>As the penalties unfurled in front of the 3252, Philadelphia missed three consecutive attempts; two of which were saved by McCarthy. </p>



<p>However, for the Union, Jose Martinez and Kai Wagner committed the mistake of Cristian Tello: a hesitating stutter-step before the kick. </p>



<p>Using this problematic tactic, a player chooses deception over precision. In other words, they would rather dupe the goalkeeper than rely on confidence. <br><br>On the contrary, Bouanga, Hollingshead and Sánchez chose the more reliable strategy: pick a corner and pummel the ball. In other words, the striker is not concerned with the goalkeeper’s dive. Ultimately, Ilie Sánchez killed the shootout, 3-0. <br><br>LAFC wins the 2022 MLS Cup, inspiring a doff of the hat. As the team bombarded into a celebratory huddle, John McCarthy was embraced by LAFC’s most underrated player, Ilie Sánchez. </p>



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="LAFC presented with MLS Cup trophy after victory over Philadelphia Union | FOX SOCCER" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7Ce_klH7pnI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<h5>Underrated Player of the game</h5>



<p>Since LAFC is stacked with talent, elite players get cast in the shadow of stars. For instance, ‘holding midfielder’ Ilie Sánchez, a brilliant acquisition from LAFC ahead of the 2022 season. <br><br>Sánchez has proven to be a ‘deep-lying’ playmaker with a depth of vision, creativity, and passing technique all season. </p>



<p>Further, Ilie’s intelligence quotient of utilizing space with slow possession creates threatening plays for the opposition. After performing remarkably, the Barcelona-born midfielder deserves the glory he earned with LAFC – a team managed to perfection by Steve Cherundolo. </p>



<h5>Workload Management</h5>



<p>In his debut season as an MLS coach, Steve Cherundolo used a panoply of tactics gained from a tenure in the Bundesliga as a <a href="https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/0000216595.jsp">right-back for Hannover 96</a>. As a result, the American boss managed to balance the egos of his studded roster. Further, his unbiased manner toward marquee players revealed a disciplined approach to stabilizing his workload. <br><br>However, Cherundolo’s phenomenal management is obscured by the elite players on the pitch, performing for fervent patronage in the stadium. As a result, the tremendous weight a coach must carry goes unnoticed. Especially since a coach has made thousands of decisions before matchday, patiently observing his mastery come to fruition. Rightfully so, the three-time World Cup veteran won the championship in his first year as head coach in Major League Soccer. <br><br>Ultimately, it’s not a consensus, but unanimous, that LAFC and their faithful fanbase earned the MLS Cup trophy. </p>



<p><em>Photo Credit: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire</em></p>


Los Angeles Football Club win the Major League Soccer Championship with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Philadelphia Union

LAFC win MLS Cup after epic battle with Philadelphia Union - World Soccer Talk

LAFC win MLS Cup after epic battle with Philadelphia Union


<p>In the 2022 season, Austin outscored LAFC 6-2. Despite the Texas capital’s pair of victories over the black &amp; gold, <em>Los Verdes</em> entered the Western Conference Final as overwhelming underdogs. LAFC and Austin went head-to-head with a spot in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">MLS </a>Cup Final on the line.</p>



<p>On Sunday, former USMNT teammates Steve Cherundolo and Josh Wolff faced off as managers. Ultimately, LAFC shutout Austin 3-0, securing a golden ticket to the championship game.</p>



<h2>LAFC qualifies for MLS Cup Final</h2>



<p>As expected, tension caused both sides to have an antagonistic attitude. Cherundolo entered the match with a signature 4-3-3 versus Wolff’s compact 4-2-3-1 formation. Frequently, Austin morphed into a 4-5-1 as they desperately held their defensive shape.</p>



<p>Early doors, both defenses were quick to employ clearances. Neither team fiddled with the risk of maintaining possession in their own third. Compatriots Jose Cifuentes and Diego Palacios engaged in tag-team plays. Together, they had a ubiquitous presence on the field. Further, Kellyn Acosta put constant pressure on Austin, finding Chicho for LAFC’s first shot on target.</p>



<p>Both sides quickly turnover the ball, highlighting the compact defensive strategy. Then, Carlos Vela set up Denis Bouanga for a breakaway down the flank. Unfortunately, the Frenchman was too quick on the dribble.</p>



<p>Giorgio Chiellini displayed the Hollywood pass, putting backspin on floating long balls. Then, Acosta heaved a set piece with a spinning curl over the crossbar. Defensively, the USMNT midfielder was a strong shield in front of center backs Chiellini and Jesús Murillo.</p>



<p>Then, a horizontal hold-up play led to a through ball. Cifuentes made a diagonal run, a play that wreaks havoc on the oppositions transitional defense. Unfortunately, the Ecuadorian missed a brilliant opportunity; preferring power over finesse with an over-the-laces shot. As a result, the ball bounced off the woodwork.</p>



<p>Ultimately, captain Carlos Vela found his groove. Specifically, a long ball controlled impeccably by the Mexican mainstay, yielded a shot and necessary save by Stuver.</p>



<h5>Austin FC’s wall broken</h5>



<p>Finally, Bouanga’s diagonal run whipsawed Austin’s backline, creating space for a shot inside the box. He hesitated with an extra touch. However, the deflection that led to a corner kick was a blessing in disguise. Vela’s dead-ball cross finds the nod of Chicho, a header boomerangs off the net, 1-0.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ARANGO WITH THE HEADER!!<br><br>LAFC lead 1-0 in the Western Conference Final 🟡⚫️<br><br>(Via <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLS</a>)<br><br> <a href="https://t.co/zPYCTFndL3">pic.twitter.com/zPYCTFndL3</a></p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1586808355909435392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h5>2nd Half of Play</h5>



<p>The aerial playmaking continued, as the ball rarely stayed level with the grass. As a result of this style of play, there were constant turnovers. As LAFC held possession, they stretched players across the field. Austin became susceptible to through balls that pierce across central gaps</p>



<p>created by expansive playmaking. LAFC continued to utilize the width, creating space for hold- up plays. As a result, strikers made vertical runs through holes in Austin’s defense.</p>



<p>LAFC forced Sebastián Driussi to vanish, irretrievable by Los Verdes. The Argentine striker has been Austin’s silver-bullet since 2021, scoring thirty goals in two seasons. Driussi’s absence on the field was less about the midfielder’s inability and more about Cherundolo’s man-marking strategy.</p>



<p>LAFC progressed the ball through thirds with positional play, utilizing a diamond passing hybrid. Then, Chicho broke away rapidly, a soft pass intended for Vela.</p>



<h5>LAFC polishes Austin FC off</h5>



<p>Unfortunately for Austin, head coach Wolff took a tactical gambit with substitute Maxi Urruti, who committed a ‘howler’ by conceding an ‘own goal’ off Vela’s corner kick, 2-0.</p>



<p>Ultimately, Steve Cherundolo delivered the death blow, substituting the fresh legs of Mahala Opoku. Finally, Opoku killed the game; the Ghanaian striker capitalized on an unobtrusive deflection from the flank, followed by an adroit invasion of space where Opoku slots the ball into the near post, 3-0.</p>



<p>At the final whistle, Austin had one shot on target. The hosts had 10.</p>



<h5>Unofficial Player of the Game: The 3252</h5>



<p>In the first half, Giorgio Chiellini displayed his robust, confrontational style of play. Moreover, his man-marking is deep-seated in ‘door-bolt’ tactics – a paragon of ‘catenaccio’. Frequently reminiscent of Franco Baresi – a legendary defender who kept opponents in his pocket for the entire match. Baresi was the prototypical example of Arrigo Sacchi’s innovation. Like Baresi, Chiellini incorporates defense into a hybrid attack.</p>



<p>Ahead of the match, Chiellini offered his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkKH9LCpuqW/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sentiment</a> that LAFC must “imagine lifting the trophy and give 100%, with the help of our fans,”</p>



<p>LAFC basked on home field, jangling the nerves of ATX fans in attendance. Banc of California Stadium – a fortress in the heart of Los Angeles – permeated in swaths of black &amp; gold. The 3252 sanctum – a menagerie of feverish fanatics – roared through a hubbub of ineffable energy. The faithful cohort thrummed a propulsive rhythm throughout the match.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The West has its winner! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LAFC</a> <br><br>(Via <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLS</a>) <a href="https://t.co/OSFAO3oQiz">pic.twitter.com/OSFAO3oQiz</a></p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1586832299022172160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h5>LAFC hosts MLS Cup Final</h5>



<p>LAFC won the Supporters Shield this season, making the 3252 the path to MLS glory. Now, those boisterous fans have the opportunity to watch their club lift a first championship in their own stadium.</p>



<p>However, the opponent is the top team from the east. Philadelphia Union defeated the defending champions, New York City FC, by a scoreline of 3-1. Philadelphia’s second-half surge of three goals in an 11-minute span saw off NYCFC.</p>



<p>That home-field is a big deal, too. LAFC was strong at home in this campaign. The club picked up 13 wins, two draws and just two losses. However, Philadelphia was even more dominant at home in the regular season. The Union went undefeated with 12 wins and five draws.</p>



<p>The MLS Eastern Conference champions battle the Western Conference Champions on Saturday, Nov. 5. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET with coverage available on FOX.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire</em></p>


For the first time in its young history, LAFC is on its way to play for glory in the MLS Cup Final following a win over Austin FC.

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Leagues: MLS

LAFC win MLS Cup after epic battle with Philadelphia Union

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LAFC reaches first MLS Cup Final with win over Austin FC