The finals

[kottisinick]

This is it one game the top seeded teams only one can be crowned champion …. For the first time ever

Philly vs Lafc

Both have gotten here on different paths. Some used money and big names some used academy and good scouting. One coach took their team to the finals first year one was lengthy process of one year contract renewals.

I expect a low scoring match with battles in the mid to be key. So we even see bale start? Does this have the making of it going into penalties?

Does this have mls golden club Lafc victory written all over it or does Phillys years of planning pay off. It at home in La so I win a home soil would be huge. Philly are the underdogs here but it’s one game and anything can happen.

Personally I have no bias on both teams but it kills me how teams can go from year one contenders to finals in 3 - 4 years knowing what we went though regardless of the reasons.

I would like to see Philly win but I know an Lafc victory is good for the global brand of mls.

Have at it you you all got ?

[OgtheDim]

4:05 pm KO


Would prefer LAFC just because Philly plays a thuggish game. Ismail Elfath, who usually clamps down hard right around the 23rd minute or so, is the ref but if these playoffs are any indication, he will let stuff go well into the second half ignoring persistent infringement.

[MikeForbes]

Really cool moment at the start of the game where the commentators just stopped talking to let you hear the LAFC supporters singing.

[jloome]

You can just tell this game is going to spend 60% of its time in the midfield. It has the reek of 1-0 or 2-1.

EDIT: Speaking of Philly, anyone watch Leeds' comeback today? Damn that was a match.

[MikeForbes]

Big deflection for a 1-0 LAFC lead.

[ag futbol]

There should be 2-3 yellow cards by now. But instead MLS officials choose to call the game like a bunch of cowards.

[MikeForbes]

Gazdag ties it. Gotta be one of the most underappreciated players in MLS.

[ensco]

I have not really been able to fully concentrate (basically hitting F5 looking for Phonzie scraps, and studying all elements of different types of hamstring injuries, while I watch)... but this is quite a game.

[MikeForbes]

What a game. A great advert for MLS.

[Yohan]

well, not the prettiest of games, but it is entertaining

[MikeForbes]

LAFC can just casually bring on Cristian Tello and Gareth freaking Bale.

[Oldtimer]

Looks like a serious injury for Crepeau.

[jloome]

Looks like a serious injury for Crepeau.

Couldn't be timed worse, my goodness.

[MikeForbes]

Feel bad for Crepeau. He has had a rough game and this likely costs him the World Cup.

[MikeForbes]

And Philly scores to likely win this game.

[OgtheDim]

Wow....

[MikeForbes]

And Bale ties it! What a fucking game.

[jloome]

Holy shit. What a game.

[Mr. Inbetween]

^Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://media0.giphy.com/media/vWku8YNwyy5vq/200w.gif?cid=ecf05e472j4b404ti6ptxx83pzege5g1dp19l xsb8h4x1l28&rid=200w.gif&ct=g

[ag futbol]

This game is bananas.

I hope Crepeau has the quickest recovery possible. His WC is definitely done but hope for the best.

[MikeForbes]

MLS isn't always pretty, but it is so entertaining at it's best.

[OgtheDim]

https://twitter.com/ImagesMls/status/1589027238334582784

[Mr. Inbetween]

It is now, maybe is/was always, A Keeper's Game...

[RealG-TFC]

I remember thinking Tello would come to us when we had Poz.

[Mr. Inbetween]

2nd PK... Football Gods?

[Mr. Inbetween]

2nd PK... Football Gods?

...and the 4th?

[Mr. Inbetween]

^ And the 6th?

[Mr. Inbetween]

... and the gods have spoken!

[MikeForbes]

Backup keeper comes in and saves two PKs to win the game for LAFC. That was awesome.

[jloome]

Backup keeper comes in and saves two PKs to win the game for LAFC. That was awesome.
Backup keeper who used to play for the opposition and has never stopped a penalty before.

Crazy.

[Oldtimer]

My son's comment after LA's backup keeper stops every shot in the penalty shootout:


Imagine if our first team keeper was as good as LA's backup

[Mr. Inbetween]

https://twitter.com/ImagesMls/status/1589027238334582784

https://media.tenor.com/9HnXKHdS9GEAAAAC/too-soon-western.gif

[MikeForbes]

My son's comment after LA's backup keeper stops every shot in the penalty shootout:

He isn't wrong. I bet a few teams will be putting in calls for McCarthy and/or Crepeau tomorrow. TFC could definitely be one.

[OgtheDim]

That might have been Philly's best shot - a bunch of them are not coming back.

[JoesphNdo]

Incredible game, but the homer in me resents this best game ever talk - I'd still take 2016 Montreal second leg.

As an aside, the owner of the team being anywhere fucking near the trophy is one of the worst north American sports traditions. Absolute nonsense.

[OgtheDim]

https://twitter.com/ThomasFloyd/status/1589032659833229312

[Yohan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbeVQI5mPYk&ab_channel=MajorLeagueSoccer

[Mr. Inbetween]

Backup keeper comes in and saves two PKs to win the game for LAFC. That was awesome.


Backup keeper who used to play for the opposition and has never stopped a penalty before.

Crazy.

I may have misheard or misunderstood,
But I thought the commentators mentioned,
Even before Crepeau's injury,
That Cherundolo's strategy may include engaging in some Jedi Mind Tricks by substituting McCarthy in if it went to PKs?

https://media.tenor.com/F4wCzA9TFPYAAAAM/planning-loony-tunes.gif

[ensco]

https://twitter.com/micheleg3/status/1589063433764630529?s=61&t=ZcY2M0FuEv4MbA4E8iii6w

https://twitter.com/timandfriends/status/1589028976819081216?s=61&t=ZcY2M0FuEv4MbA4E8iii6w

I'll stick with our 2016 game as the greatest game (I hate PKs)… but I think Bale's goal is the greatest goal in MLS history, when you consider game situation, caliber of goal, and the fact that LAFC won it.

Everyone has to rewrite their World Cup preview stories on Wales now, because Bale was on minutes restrictions, but he isn’t rusty! If all Bale does is score goals in finals… sure makes the USA v Wales game in two weeks more interesting.

[Mr. Inbetween]

^
I think I will celebrate with some me time on the links...

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hbJo2YD7Mz7xpxFkkZnD59.jpg

[Mr. Inbetween]

^^6'1'' v 6'6"...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fg2GhcEUcAAnEg8?format=jpg&name=small

[ensco]

Everything about that Bale goal was perfect. The balls from Ilie to Palacios to Bale were perfect. The finish was perfect.

The defending was excellent, Philly didn't choke. They just got beat. Nevertheless, Philly must feel like we did in 2016, that they should have had that.

Even in PKs, I mean, who didn't think Philly had the advantage with Blake.

[jloome]

^^6'1'' v 6'6"...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fg2GhcEUcAAnEg8?format=jpg&name=small

Jesus Christ. That's about a three-and-a-half foot vertical. Thank God the dude wasn't fit. Imagine what he could do if he was ever in shape.

Bale said in an interview today that he knew going into the WC that players would start dropping like flies from late-season injuries, and he wanted to be fully fit, that the time missed was quite deliberate, other than a small leg injury that kept him out of the last game.

[OgtheDim]

At the beginning of the year, who'd a thunk it

Gareth Bale

MLS Legend

[Section 223]

He isn't wrong. I bet a few teams will be putting in calls for McCarthy and/or Crepeau tomorrow. TFC could definitely be one.
TFC is in a bit of a mess I don’t suggest they inquire about a career minor league keeper in McCarthy, penalty saves were wonderful, but this keeper will answer none of our problems.

[Canary10]

Jesus Christ. That's about a three-and-a-half foot vertical. Thank God the dude wasn't fit. Imagine what he could do if he was ever in shape.

Bale said in an interview today that he knew going into the WC that players would start dropping like flies from late-season injuries, and he wanted to be fully fit, that the time missed was quite deliberate, other than a small leg injury that kept him out of the last game.

There was an article going around last week about the Real Madrid trainer saying Bale is the best all-around athlete he's ever seen (and he also had Ronaldo training under him).