LAFC 3-3 Philadelphia (3-0 on penalties): Ilie Sanchez scores the decisive penalty to win MLS Cup

LAFC won their first MLS Cup Saturday after a thrilling title match vs. the Philadelphia Union, winning on penalties after the two sides couldn’t be separated across 120 minutes of soccer to the tune of 3-3.

LAFC took the lead in the 28th minute through a heavily deflected Kellyn Acosta goal which found the net after being headed by Jack McGlynn.

The Union equalized in the 59th minute through Daniel Gazdag, as the Hungarian striker latched onto a mishit Jose Martinez shot and coolly passed the ball beyond Maxime Crepeau.

It seemed as if Jesus Murillo delivered the final blow when he headed home off a corner in the 83rd minute, though Jack Elliott converted a set piece header of his own just two minutes later to tie the match and ultimately send it to extra time.

Kellyn Acosta opened the scoring for LAFC with a heavily deflected free kick in the first half

Acosta celebrates the goal with his teammates as LAFC take a crucial 1-0 lead in the game

The game was played at LAFC’s home stadium and the host’s fans were out in full force

‘The game had a little bit of everything, for sure,’ said LAFC’s Acosta. 

‘It was a roller coaster. It was crazy. It was an incredible game. It was a collective effort.’

Wales captain Gareth Bale was named on the bench for the match but entered in the 97th minute, and would later have a massive impact.

Extra time was full of more twists, as Crepeau was sent off (and badly injured) after he took down a clear-on-goal Cory Burke after a poor back-pass from Jesus Murillo.

With a man advantage and nine minutes of stoppage time, Elliott was able to find the net again – this time via a rebound – in the 124th minute to give the Union their first lead of the match.

Acosta scored when an errant header from Jack McGlynn caused his free kick to go in

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Philadelphia Union goalie Andre Blake was unable to keep the ball out and the hosts went up

LAFC fans provided a boost to their team throughout the match at Banc of California Stadium

Union midfielder Jose Martinez passes the ball in the first half of the match

But the lead would last just four minutes as the substitute Bale converted a Diego Palacios cross from the left to score yet another header in the match and take it to penalties.

‘It’s always nice to score in finals, and I seem to have a knack for doing that,’ Bale told reporters afterwards.

From there, LAFC won 3-0 in the shootout, with Ilie Sanchez scoring the decisive kick.

Daniel Gazdag equalized in the second half of the match in the 59th minute with a cool finish

The Hungarian striker slotted past Maxime Crepeau after latching onto a mishit shot

Jesus Murillo scored in the 83rd minute with a header and it appeared the title was LAFC’s

But Jack Elliott responded two minutes later with a header of his own to tie the game up

John McCarthy, who replaced the sent off (and badly injured) Crepau, was later named the match’s MVP for his heroics after coming on, as he saved attempts from Jose Martinez and Kai Wagner in the shootout.

While Crepau’s sending off gave him the chance to be in the spotlight, it was a bittersweet moment seeing the Canadian leave the field hurt right before the World Cup.

‘I saw his face, and we saw his emotion,’ McCarthy said. ‘To me, that’s the play of the game. If he slides and misses, then it´s 3-2 and who knows how the game is going to end. 

‘He made a big-time decision by coming out and making that play. I´m devastated for him, because it’s a serious injury and it looks like he is going to miss the World Cup. You are not coming out of this game for a Band-Aid.’

The title win is the first MLS Cup for Los Angeles FC.

Maxime Crepau was sent off after taking down Cory Burke in extra time

Elliott scored his second goal of the match deep into extra time, scoring off of a rebound

But the substitute Bale answered just four minutes later with a thunderous header to tie it

Bale made a significant impact in the game off the bench and saved the game for LAFC

Los Angeles ultimately won on penalties 3-0, giving them their first MLS Cup

Diego Palacios and Bale celebrate after defeating the Philadelphia Union in the shootout