LAFC won the MLS Cup for the first time in their history, defeating Philadelphia Union in the 2022 finals 3-0 on penalties. The game ended 3-3 after 120 minutes of dramatic football, and had to be decided from a shootout.
Gareth Bale scored the equaliser for LAFC, eight minutes past the 120 minute mark to level things up. The Welshman was subbed on in the 97th minute, and headed the ball into the net to score moments after the opposition did.
Gareth Bale’s late equaliser helps LAFC win MLS Cup 3-0 on penalties
“It’s always nice to score in finals, and I seem to have a knack for doing that,” Gareth Bale said. “It’s big. It’s important for the club. It’s important for the fans.”
“You can see how happy everybody is now, the fans, the city. It’s important for this club to go to the next level, and I think by winning this trophy, it shows that we are.
“It’s a club really on the rise doing the right things and it’s an important trophy for us, especially the first one, first major trophy, and hopefully there’s more to come in the future.”
The former Real Madrid forward scored in the final of the Champions League to help the team win. And he has proved to be the deciding factor even at this stage of his career, having joined the MLS club in the summer.
