We can’t tell you who will win the MLS Cup on Saturday, but we are sure of one thing, a team will lift the trophy for the first time in its history.
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This is indeed the first appearance in the final for the Philadelphia Union and Los Angeles FC. Both teams have never made it past the conference finals before this season.
In this game played at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, we will see a duel between the champion of the Western Conference and the regular season against the team that finished first in the Eastern Conference.
“We know we’re probably the underdogs and it’s a position that suits us,” noted Union head coach Jim Curtin at a press conference on Friday. It’s rare that the two best teams make it to the final because there is a good parity in this league. »
Very close
Curtin believes his team is not the favorite, but very little separates the two teams, which finished the season with 67 points.
Los Angeles (21-9-4) finished top with 21 wins, two more than the Union (19-5-10) who suffered fewer losses.
Offensively, Philadelphia scored 72 goals to Los Angeles’ 66. Philadelphia also has the upper hand defensively with just 26 goals against in 34 games while LA has yielded 38 times.
This means that we will find ourselves faced with an intriguing duel between two teams that are capable of scoring. It will be especially interesting to see how MLS Goalie of the Year Andre Blake fares against the California big guns. The Jamaican has made fifteen shutouts this season and one more in qualifying.
A turning point
There is no natural rivalry between these two formations, but one match in particular between them has forged the character of the Union.
This is the very last meeting the two teams played before the COVID-19 pandemic put the league on hold for a few months in March 2020.
The frenzied encounter ended 3-3 at Banc of California Stadium, with both teams trading blow for blow each time the other scored.
“I’ve talked about this game so much that people are tired of it,” laughed Curtin. It was a fantastic game with great goals and above all, it was a game that made us believe that we could go further. »
Doubts
On one side as on the other, there are doubts about the presence of certain important players. In the Californian camp, we wonder about the possibility that Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini are absent.
On the Union side, the presence of the captain, Alejandro Bedoya, is far from certain. Jim Curtin even hinted that the American veteran would not be able to be on the field during the kickoff.
“Alejandro is doing everything he can to play this game, even if it’s only for five minutes. But it will be difficult to have him as a starter.
“He’s the heart of our team and he’s doing everything right in the dressing room in the meantime and I’m sure if he can’t be a starter the other guys are going to do everything to win for him. »
A shower of praise for both teams
Jim Curtin is the kind of coach who likes things simple and without fluffhe also mentioned that Steve Cherundolo was of the same mould, an endangered species in football, according to Curtin’s opinion.
The tone was therefore set; the two coaches, who know each other little, moreover, threw flowers at each other.
“Steve didn’t get all the love he deserved on our national team. He then came here and found success immediately while maneuvering through a complex season, where there were many pitfalls,” Curtin began.
Cherundolo was the other runner-up for Coach of the Year with Wilfried Nancy taking on Curtin, who ultimately won. The story of the Los Angeles coach is interesting, since he is in his first career season in the MLS after managing Las Vegas for a year in the USL, he who played his entire career in Germany with Hanover.
Well organised
It was then Cherundolo’s turn to sing the praises of his vis-à-vis and the work he has been doing with the Union since 2014.
He was brief and concise about what he likes about the game offered by the Union, which features the best defense in MLS.
“They are successful and have a clear identity, and it’s very difficult to accomplish. It shows determination and tireless work. »
“They are extremely disciplined and follow the rules, it makes them really difficult to disrupt. »
hard to face
Earlier in the week, Black & Gold players mentioned that it was difficult to play against the Union, and the comment made Curtin happy.
“It’s a nice compliment to hear that it’s difficult to play against us, we’re comfortable playing without the ball. »
Curtin returned the compliment by listing LAFC’s qualities.
“For their part, they exert very strong pressure and oppose their pressure to that of the opponent on the block, you can easily get caught and it’s difficult to stick to your game plan. »
Note in passing that the Union won a good part of the end-of-season prizes in the MLS.
Curtin was named Coach of the Year, Andre Blake was named Goalkeeper of the Year, while Jakob Glesnes was awarded Defender of the Year and Alejandro Bedoya was honored for his community involvement. So they got their hands on half of the eight prizes awarded.