LAFC Wins MLS Cup

In case you missed it among this weekend’s college football games and World Series, the Los Angeles Football Club won their first Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup defeating the Philadelphia Union after penalty kicks.  

The game was played at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles in front of 22,384 fans.

It was Garett Bale’s dramatic goal late in regulation that propelled LAFC to its first title.  Philadelphia’s Jack Elliott scored in stoppage time in the extra period but Bale connected with a header minutes later to tie the game at 3-3 and forced a penalty kid shootout.  LAFC won the shootout 3-0.  

Backup LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy saved two penalties in the shootout while his team scored with three of its four attempts including Ilie Sanchez’s title clinching goal.  

Both teams had finished the regular season in first place in their conferences.  LAFC became the second team since 2012 to win the MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield in the same season.  The Supporters’ Shield goes to the team with the best regular season record.  They are also the 15th different team to win the MLS Cup and the ninth different winner in the past decade.  

LAFC had a bye in the first round then defeated the LA Galaxy 3-2 in the Western Conference Semifinals then shutout Austin FC 3-0.  The Philadelphia Union also had a bye in the first then edged FC Cincinnati 1-0 in the Eastern Conference semifinals then defeated the NYCFC 3-1 in the conference final.

The MLS Cup mostly went unnoticed due to other sports events on the same day.  Maybe they should consider a different date/time to give them maximum exposure.  Playing the title game on a huge college football weekend and World Series game is too much for this league still trying to find a place in the U.S.