Kenyan international Richard Odada’s dream of landing the 2022 Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup title in his first season in the top-flight United States league was cut short on Saturday as his Philadelphia Union side was beaten by Los Angeles FC on post-match penalty kicks following a dramatic 3-3 tie over 120 minutes of regulation and extra time, in front of a capacity crowd at Banc of California Stadium.Gareth Bale’s thunderous 128th-minute equalizing header sent the game into penalty kicks, showing exactly why the Black & Gold signed the superstar forward this summer as he left Real Madrid.MLS CUP CHAMPIONS. 🏆#ForLosAngeles pic.twitter.com/7Mww0AKMTx— LAFC (@LAFC) November 5, 2022 That canceled out a possible man-of-the-match performance from Philadelphia center-back Jack Elliott, whose first equalizer booked extra frames, and then his go-ahead 124th-minute strike pushed the Union on the verge of a first MLS Cup trophy.But Bale came up huge with the final whistle nearing, and backup goalkeeper John McCarthy took the hero’s cape in the PK shootout by saving two Union efforts – from Jose Martinez and Kai Wagner – after Daniel Gazdag sent the Eastern Conference champions’ first attempt over the crossbar.GARETH BALE. CLUTCH(via @FOXSoccer)pic.twitter.com/gt7Rd2jZ0r— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 5, 2022 LAFC first got scores from Denis Bouanga and Ryan Hollingshead in PKs, then Ilie Sanchez’s game-winner from the spot sealed a 3-0 advantage for the Black & Gold from 12 yards out.From there, celebrations ensued for the Western Conference champions before their 3252 supporters’ section – all in a final that pitted the league’s top two teams against each other for the first time since 2003.##NAJAVA_MECA_6787063##But the storyline, among many, might be McCarthy. The Philadelphia native and former Union goalkeeper was subbed on in the 117th minute after LAFC’s starting goalkeeper, Maxime Crepeau was shown a red card when the Video Review decision reduced the hosts to 10 men.Crepeau also got hurt on the play, suffering a serious-looking leg injury after colliding with Philly forward Cory Burke following an under-hit back-pass; referee Ismail Elfath originally brandished a yellow card that was later upgraded.Thank you, Philly. 💙 pic.twitter.com/dVQUVfENIB— x – PhilaUnion (@PhilaUnion) November 5, 2022 All that drama was just during extra time and PKs, as the game reached a new level with each passing period.LAFC midfielder Kellyn Acosta (deflected free kick) and defender Jesus Murillo (corner-kick header) both scored during regulation time, and the Union equalized each time via Gazdag (near-range shot) and Elliott (free-kick header) to make it 2-2.Aquino features as Simba Queens secure CAF CL semis spotFrom there, the Tinseltown effect took over – Elliott’s almost-winner, Bale’s towering header and McCarthy’s PK heroics – to cap an MLS Cup Final that can only be called legendary.Additional reporting by MLS
