(Los Angeles) Gareth Bale tied the game 3-3 in dramatic fashion and goalkeeper John McCarthy was perfect in the shootout to help Los Angeles FC beat the Philadelphia Union and win the inaugural MLS Cup of his story, Saturday.
Posted yesterday at 8:05 p.m.
Bale tied the game with a deflected header in the eighth minute of stoppage time in the final 15 minutes of added time.
After Bale scored as Los Angeles FC went 10-man, Denis Bouanga, Ryan Hollingshead and Ilie Sanchez hit the target in the penalty shootout, capping MLS’ most dramatic final.
McCarthy, a former Union goalkeeper and Philadelphia native, had played just one MLS game with Los Angeles FC this season. He had to replace starter Maxime Crépeau, who injured his leg when he committed a major foul on Cory Burke during the second overtime period.
Jack Elliott’s second goal of the game gave a 3-2 lead in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Bale, who came on in the 97e minute, scored his first goal in three years and his third in MLS.
In the shootout, McCarthy allowed no goals in three Union attempts, including making two saves. Dániel Gazdag slipped and sent his shot over the horizontal bar.
Sánchez confirmed the victory for his team in front of an excited crowd in Los Angeles.