LAFC advances to MLS Cup Finals with a dominating win over Austin FC
2022 MLS Western Conference Champions LAFC. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Los Angeles FC has finally done it. The Black and Gold advanced to its first MLS Cup Championship game after their dominating 3-0 win over Austin FC Sunday afternoon at Banc of California Stadium.
LAFC became the first Supporters' Shield winner to reach the MLS final since 2017. They will host the 2022 Major League Soccer final on Saturday, Nov. 5, against the Philadelphia Union.
"We're excited to be in the MLS Cup Final," LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said. "That was our objective. I think the guys did an emphatic job of making sure there is only one team playing here Saturday. I think this is the best I've seen this year of them implementing our match plan from the first minute to the end."
The LAFC offense attacked early and often. Jose Cifuentes blasted a shot from close range, but it banged off the post in the 17th minute. They finished with a club record of 16 shots in the first half.
In the 29th minute, Cristian Arango gave LAFC a 1-0 lead with a header off a Carlos Vela corner kick. He now has goals in each of LAFC's two postseason games, leaving him tied with Carlos Vela, Adama Diomande, and Denis Bouanga as the top scorers in club postseason history.
"You know, personally I always look to give an advantage to the team, whether it's me scoring or not," Arango said. "Thankfully, in this instance, we got an advantage, you know, overall. It's just important for something that the team and the fans deserved."
LAFC took a 2-0 in the 62nd minute when Maximiliano Urruti scored an own goal on a Vela corner kick. Vela, the only player to appear in all six of LAFC's all-time playoff games, was credited with the assist on that goal. He now has an assist in five of LAFC's six postseason games.
Kwadwo Opoku came on as a substitute and scored the third goal in the 81st minute to put the game away. He is the eighth different player to score in the playoffs for LAFC.