SM
Man Utd vs. Chelsea: 4 hrs 27 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
LA
Major League Soccer
Nov 5, 2022 at 8pm UK
Banc of California Stadium
PU

Los Angeles
3 - 3
Philadelphia

Los Angeles win 3-0 on penalties
Acosta (27'), Murillo (83'), Bale (120+8')
Cifuentes (65'), Ibeagha (87')
Crepeau (116')
FT
(aet)
Gazdag (59'), Elliott (85', 120+4')
Carranza (90+1')

Preview: Los Angeles FC vs. Philadelphia Union - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Los Angeles FC vs. Philadelphia Union - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between Los Angeles FC and Philadelphia Union, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

For the first time since 2003, the top seeds in the Eastern and Western Conference will compete in the MLS Cup Final as Los Angeles FC host the Philadelphia Union on Saturday at Banc of California Stadium.

It will be the fourth time that the decisive fixture in this competition will feature two teams appearing in the Final for the first time, as the Black and Gold shut out Austin FC 3-0 in their match last Sunday, while the Union came back to beat New York City FC 3-1.


Match preview

Throughout the 2022 campaign, it has been MLS Cup or bust for Steve Cherundolo and his LAFC side, who are the first Supporters' Shield winners to qualify for the Final since Toronto won it all in 2017.

They are only the ninth team to finish the regular season with the best record in the league and make it to this stage, with seven of the previous eight going on to win the cup.

The 2022 version of LAFC consists of players with star-powered reputations on various levels, some of whom are famous names that European football fans know well, others are mainstays in MLS and some who might be vital figures for their national teams in the CONCACAF region.

All of those components have proven to be a successful recipe for the Black and Gold this year as there is a good mix of glitz and glamour, as you might expect in a city like Los Angeles, along with some grit and quality experienced defensive players.

LA have scored six goals in their two playoff fixtures and are unbeaten in their four home matches this year against Eastern Conference sides.

They outscored their opponents 10-2 in those matches, with their only two goals conceded coming in a 2-2 draw versus the Union in May.

During the regular season, the Black and Gold won a league-high 13 encounters at home, one more than Philly, while they scored three goals or more on 10 occasions at Banc of California Stadium, including the playoffs.

In four previous meetings versus Philadelphia, LAFC have never lost, though the last three encounters between them in the regular season ended as a draw, while they both managed to find the back of the net in each game.

Their attack-minded setup has often overwhelmed opposing defences, scoring 66 goals during the regular season, many coming from some excellent build-up play and a lot of possession.

An early second-half setback for the Union seemed to wake them up in the conference final, with the home side answering the opening goal by Maxi Moralez within eight minutes as they avenged their defeat versus NYCFC from 2021.

Some splendid goalkeeping after going behind 1-0 gave this team a burst of energy, as Jim Curtin and his side in the end for full marks for their victory.

For some teams, scoring a goal changes your setup and you become more complacent and hang back, but when the Union strike, they look determined to pour it on, scoring two goals within five minutes of one another on 13 occasions this year, including in the Eastern Conference Final.

Their victory last week was the 11th straight one for them at home, including the playoffs, equalling the MLS record set by the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2011.

That being said, Philly were still a pretty good road team throughout the regular season, winning seven times, which was tied for fourth in the league in 2022.

Only one team had more goals this season than LAFC, the Union, who found the back of the net 72 times, though they failed to score in their final two away fixtures.

Throughout the campaign, the Boys in Blue were well-organised along the back end and easily the most challenging side to break down defensively, conceding a league-low 26 goals this year, while posting seven clean sheets away from home.

While LA were successful by adding the right newcomers to this team and bringing in veteran experience, the Union's success comes down to patience and learning through failures.

The core of this group have been here for years, steadily developing into elite individuals who can put that talent in a system designed for the betterment of the team.

Los Angeles FC Major League Soccer form:


Los Angeles FC form (all competitions):


Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer form:


Philadelphia Union form (all competitions):



Team News

Cristian Arango has scored the winning goal for LAFC in each of their playoff triumphs, while Kwadwo Opoku notched his first of the postseason last weekend, with Maxi Urruti aiding them with an own goal and Maxime Crepeau collecting his first clean sheet since the start of September.

Former Italian captain Giorgio Chiellini made his first career MLS playoff start in the West Final as he was paired with Jesus Murillo in central defence.

Chiellini would later be replaced by Sebastien Ibeagha in the second half, while Carlos Vela has been involved in a goal in each of their playoff fixtures.

Gareth Bale was on the bench for the entire 90 minutes against Austin, Sebas Mendez has come on as a substitute in each of their playoff encounters, while Latif Blessing has been a healthy scratch in each of their last two games.

A massive stop by the 2022 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Andre Blake, dramatically changed the fortunes of Philadelphia in the Conference Final when they trailed 1-0.

Julian Carranza and Daniel Gazdag scored two minutes apart to reverse that scoreline, while Cory Burke put the icing on the cake with his first of the year since finding the back of the net in a 6-0 triumph over the Colorado Rapids.

Last weekend, Alejandro Bedoya made his first start of the 2022 postseason, while Jack McGlynn came on as a substitute after starting in their 1-0 victory over FC Cincinnati and Mikael Uhre is searching for his first goal of the playoffs after scoring 12 in the regular season.

McGlynn was the only change made by Curtin to his starting 11 against NYCFC, while Matthew Real sat out after coming on as a substitute versus Cincy.

Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Crepeau; Hollingshead, Murillo, Chiellini, Escobar; Cifuentes, Sanchez, Acosta; Vela, Arango, Bouanga

Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Mbaizo, Glesnes, Elliott, Wagner; McGlynn, Martinez, Flach; Gazdag; Carranza, Uhre


We say: Los Angeles FC 1-1 Philadelphia Union (LAFC wins on penalties)

These are two elite-level teams who excel in similar categories. Both are capable of scoring in bunches, while the Union have a slight edge defensively, but LA have a solid defensive midfield setup.

While this will be the first MLS Cup Final for either side, LA have veterans who have played on the most prominent football stages, and the experience of Bale and Chiellini, among others, could be that little extra needed to give the Black and Gold a narrow victory.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!



amp_article__498715 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2022-11-03 14:20:50:
html db last update - 2022-11-03 14:20:50 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Sunday's Major League Soccer predictions including Inter Miami vs. Montreal
Sporting raid: Amorim 'wants to bring four players with him' to Old Trafford
Amorim confirmed as Man United head coach with official start date revealed
Sunday's Major League Soccer predictions including NY Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew
Premier League Table

Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Injury boost? Man United could have midfielder back for Chelsea clash

1

IB

Sporting raid: Amorim 'wants to bring four players with him' to Old Trafford

2

SR

Reports suggest Audi-Sauber seals Bortoleto deal

NEW

3

RS

Real Madrid vs. AC Milan: Head-to-head record and past meetings

NEW

4

RM

Konate blow, Jota latest: Liverpool injury news for Leverkusen clash

5

KB

Any chance for Odegaard? Arsenal injury list for Inter Milan clash

6

AC

"Give him time" - Van Nistelrooy backs under-performing Man United ace

7

&H

Sunday's Serie A predictions including Napoli vs. Atalanta BC

8

SS

Pep's double defensive blow: Man City injury list for Sporting clash

9

PD

Sunday's Premier League predictions including Man United vs. Chelsea

10

SP


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .