Saturday’s MLS Cup clash brings together the two very best teams from the 2022 season.
LAFC won the Supporters’ Shield, but were locked on 67 points alongside the Philadelphia Union, who enjoyed the best offensive and defensive records in the league and only finished second on games won.
There’s talent aplenty on both sides and while the Union seem to have the more balanced roster, LAFC play gorgeous soccer and have home advantage.
Trying to call this one feels almost impossible, but here are at least five things 90min is predicting could happen…
The Union scored a whopping 72 goals during the regular season, while they’ve followed up with four during the Playoffs so far.
In Daniel Gazdag, they have one of the league’s elite talents who can feel genuinely aggrieved to have not appeared higher up in the MVP conversation. Beyond him, Mikael Uhre and Julian Carranza have proven themselves extremely effective MLS strikers.
But, then, LAFC are also armed to the teeth. We all know Carlos Vela’s quality, but despite everyone trying to drop him for Gareth Bale, Cristian Arango has been on fire this season. Bale, of course, is prone to big moments in finals, while the Black and Gold will look to Denis Bouanga and, perhaps from the bench, Cristian Tello for more inspiration.
All of this is without mentioning the attacking exploits of full-backs like Diego Palacios, Kai Wagner, and Ryan Hollingshead.
In short, there’s no chance this 0-0s its way to penalties.
As mentioned, Gareth Bale has previous in big games.
The 33-year-old scored no fewer than three UEFA Champions League final goals during his time at Real Madrid, while his strike against Barcelona in the 2013/14 Copa del Rey final remains legendary.
At international level, who can forget his three strikes during Wales’ run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals, or the countless qualifying goals he’s netted over the years?
For all his injury problems and lack of action since joining LAFC, Bale’s experience and world-class quality are priceless.
In short, even if he’s only 50% fit, Steve Cherundolo has an ace on the bench that he absolutely won’t be afraid to use.
Jim Curtin recently joked that Jose Martinez is the one player he cannot control but, then, that’s probably exactly how he likes it.
The Venezuela international is among the best midfield destroyers in Major League Soccer and you can bet your bottom dollar that he’ll be rampaging around Banc of America Stadium on Saturday, throwing his unique, glorious mess all over LAFC’s beautifully crafted soccer.
That said, it’s well known that Martinez can occasionally overstep the mark, as evidenced by his team-high 10 yellow cards during the 2022 regular season.
Either way, Martinez is the king of chaos and we’re totally here for it.
The Philadelphia Union have never beaten LAFC in four attempts so far, drawing three times and losing once. However, this is no ordinary Philly team.
Jim Curtin’s side swept away almost everything before them during the regular season and arguably would have been defending champions at this point anyway had it not been for a spate of health and safety protocols destroying their Eastern Conference Final hopes last year.
LAFC can be devastating at times, but they do have a softer underbelly than the Union, whose predatory instincts are primed to go for the kill.
The Union won’t find it easy, though. Remember, LAFC didn’t just match them in the regular season, they pipped them to the Shield.
Given the Black and Gold’s talent, they’re bound to find some goals. However, they’ll be outscored thanks to the superhuman efforts of goalkeeper Andre Blake.
The Jamaica international recently picked up his third MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award and already during these Playoffs has come up with some incredible, match-saving moments. His stop from Alexander Callens just after the Union went 1-0 down to NYCFC in the Eastern Conference Final was the pick of the bunch. 16 minutes later and the Union were 3-1 up.
Blake comes up with huge moments at critical points in matches and it’ll be no different on Saturday. He’s the match-winner who prevents goals, rather than scoring them.
Watch the story of Charlotte FC’s journey to MLS in 90min’s The Making of Charlotte FC, presented by DoorDash, on 90min channels now. Subscribe to our new US YouTube channel.
