Box Score | 2022 MLS Cup

Philadelphia Union played Los Angeles FC Saturday afternoon at Banc of California Stadium in the 2022 MLS Cup Final, drawing 3-3 in regulation, and falling 3-0 in the post-regulation shootout. Los Angeles FC midfielder Kellyn Acosta scored the first goal of the match from a free kick in the 28th minute. Early into the second half, midfielder Jose Martinez found midfielder Daniel Gazdag on a long through ball, where Gazdag put his right footed shot into the back of the net to equalize the score in the 59th minute. LAFC defender Jesús Murillo scored the go-ahead goal in the 83rd minute with a header following a corner kick. Two minutes later, defender Kai Wagner found defender Jack Elliott’s head on a set piece to equalize the match. Regulation time was not enough to separate the two sides, both teams remained scoreless through the first half of extra time despite chances on net. Late in the second half of extra time, defender Jack Elliott found the back of the net after a deflection off LAFC's goalkeeper bounced to his right foot in the 120+4 minute. Moments later in the 120+8 minute, Gareth Bale equalized with a header. The game was decided by kicks from the penalty spot, where LAFC won 3-0.

After a historic regular season where they broke the club record for most goals scored (72), least goals conceded (26), most points in a season (67), highest goal differential (+46), and most wins in team history (19), the Union achieved their best finish in the MLS Cup Playoffs, reaching the MLS Cup Final for the first time in club history and finishing the regular season as a high enough ranked seed to host two Eastern Conference playoff matches.

Los Angeles FC 3(3) - Philadelphia Union 3(0)
Banc of California Stadium (Los Angeles, CA)
Saturday, November 5, 2022

TODAY’S MATCH INFO

Referee: Ismail Elfath
Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Ian Anderson
Fourth Official: Joseph Dickerson
VAR: Drew Fischer
Ast. VAR: Jeff Muschik
Weather: 71 degrees and mostly sunny.

GOALS/ASSISTS

LAFC – Kellyn Acosta (unassisted) 28’
PHI –  Daniel Gazdag (Martinez ) 59’
LAFC – Jesús Murillo (Vela) 83’
PHI –  Jack Elliott (Wagner ) 85’
PHI –  Jack Elliott (unassisted ) 120’+4’
LAFC – Gareth Bale (Palacios) 120’+8

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

PHI – Jack Elliott (caution) 14’
LAFC – José Cifuentes (caution) 65’
LAFC – Sebastien Ibeagha (caution) 87’
PHI – Julian Carranza (caution) 90’+1’
LAFC – Maxime Crépeau (ejected) 116’

LINEUP

Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake; Kai Wagner, Jack Elliott, Jakob Glesnes, Olivier Mbaizo; Jose Martinez, Jack McGlynn (Paxten Aaronson 84’), Leon Flach, Daniel Gazdag, Mikael Uhre (Cory Burke 71’) (Chris Donovan 120’+1’), Julian Carranza.

Substitutes not used: Matt Freese; Matt Real, Nathan Harriel, Jesus Bueno, Alejandro Bedoya, Quinn Sullivan.

Los Angeles FC: Maxime Crépeau; Diego Palacios, Sebastien Ibeagha, Jesús Murillo, Ryan Hollingshead, Kellyn Acosta (Cristian Tello 91’), Ilie Sánchez, José Cifuentes, Dénis Bouanga, Cristian Arango (Kwadwo Opoku 74’) (John McCarthy 117’), Carlos Vela( Gareth Bale 97’).

Substitutes not used: Eddie Segura; Franco Escobar, Giorgio Chiellini, Jhegson Méndez, Latif Blessing.

Team Notes

• Midfielder Daniel Gazdag scored his first MLS Cup goal. Gazdag has scored 17 goals in his last 18 matches dating back to mid-July, three more than any other player in the MLS in that time.
• Defender Jack Elliott scored a brace in his first MLS Cup appearance.
• The MLS Cup Final appearance marks the furthest the Philadelphia Union have finished in the MLS Cup Playoffs in club history.