If you thought the final match for the Major League Soccer cup would not include drama, think again.
Los Angeles Football Club defeated Philadelphia Union in penalty kicks on Saturday, but not before a series of dramatic events inside Banc of California Stadium.
After the match ended in regulation tied 2-2 for the first time in MLS history, LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau was given a red card for cutting off Philadelphia Union’s Cory Burke’s path to the goal in the 110th minute. The Canadian goalkeeper broke his leg in his challenge to keep PU from scoring.
However, Philadelphia Union still managed to find a goal in the 124th minute as PU centerback Jack Elliott scored his second goal of the game to give the club a 3-2 advantage. When things felt as though they were headed in Philadelphia’s favor, Gareth Bale shifted the tide, scoring on a header and tying the game at 3-3 to send the match into penalty kicks.
LAFC’s Cristian Telo started off the series of penalty kicks but was denied by Andre Blake. After PU failed to convert, Denis Bouanga beat Blake to pick up LAFC’s first score.
As LAFC’s backup goalkeeper John McCarthy prevented PU to score, LAFC converted on its next two kicks—one from Ryan Hollingshead and Ilie Sánchez—to secure the club’s first MLS cup and becoming the eighth team to win both the Supporters’ Shield (most points in the regular season) and MLS Cup in the same season.
