Major League Soccer and Mexican players have been synonymous with each other since the beginning of time and 2023 is not the exception.
Throughout history, multiple renowned Mexican players have graced the fields of Major League Soccer. Arriving as homeland legends, as former European stars with much left in the tank or whatever the case may be, players from México have always managed to deliver in the United States.
The greatest game in Major League Soccer history was played on Saturday as LAFC defeated the Philadelphia Union to win MLS Cup 3-0 on penalty kicks after tying 3-3. There aren’t adjectives adequate to describe the excitement, heartbreak and drama this game had.
With the Philadelphia Union leading 3-2 in the final minutes of extra time, Gareth Bale was the hero of Los Angeles when he scored the latest goal in MLS Playoff history. A powerful header in the 128th minute saved his team which was on the brink of defeat.
LAFC reached its first MLS Cup thanks to two well-taken Carlos Vela corners — the first met by Chicho Arango, the second an unfortunate Maxi Urruti own goal — and a late Kwadwo Opoku strike to defeat Austin FC 3-0 in the Western Conference final.
Thanks to its status as Supporters' Shield winner, LAFC will host MLS Cup at Banc of California Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 5 against the winner of the Eastern Conference final between the Philadelphia Union and NYCFC.
Cristian Arango scored in the third minute of second-half stoppage to lift Los Angeles FC to a dramatic 3-2 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy in a Western Conference semifinal on Thursday night.
Denis Bouanga scored the first two goals for LAFC and also contributed indirectly to Arango's match winner to lift the home side to their second Western Conference final since joining MLS in 2018.
LAFC STRIKES FIRST IN EL TRAFICO! ⚫️
Trailing 1-0 to a header from Minnesota United's Brent "Leave It All Out There" Kallman on Tuesday night in St. Paul, LAFC saw all its regular season ambition — the Supporters' Shield and a clear path to hosting MLS Cup — slipping away as they stared at a fifth defeat in six matches.
Gareth Bale had offered very little over 62 minutes before getting the hook, while Denis Bouanga was sacrificed at the same time with Steve Cherundolo hoping that Cristian Tello could offer something different.
After LAFC's recent coup of Juventus legend Giorgio Chiellini and five-time Champions League winner Gareth Bale, all eyes were on the club Sunday as it welcomed the New York Red Bulls to Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles in a nationally televised match on ABC.
Soccer — or fútbol/football as many of the locals prefer to call it — has decades of unmatched, rich history in Los Angeles. The sport’s steady growth in the City of Angels has cultivated a unique culture for the city and its fans.
Gerardo Martino puso en órbita el nombre de los 28 jugadores que comenzarán el proceso de clasificación al Mundial de Catar 2022, el cual se inicia el próximo 2 de septiembre ante Jamaica y que también tendrá al Tri midiéndose a Costa Rica (5 de septiembre) y Panamá (8 de septiembre). La lista incluye varios regresos, pero al mismo tiempo deja preguntas en torno a los ausentes, algunos por lesión y otros por razones que empiezan a ser caldo de especulaciones.
Y los nominados son...
Dos días antes del Juego de Estrellas entre la MLS y la Liga MX se oficializó la baja de los dos rostros más grandes del evento: los mexicanos Javier Hernández y Carlos Vela.
Ambos se suman así a una importante lista de jugadores que fueron nominados originalmente y que no podrán decir presente en el partido que se disputará en el Estadio Banc of California de Los Angeles.
Tanto Hernández como Vela se perderán el encuentro por lesiones.
Carlos Vela está, como dicen los clichés deportivos, entre algodones. El talentoso jugador no se encuentra al ciento por ciento físicamente y es duda para un LA Galaxy vs LAFC que ebulle ante la posibilidad de verlo frente a Javier Chicharito Hernández, en un face to face que promete ser el más importante entre futbolistas mexicanos en la historia de la MLS.