Gareth Bale Delivers On His Promise As LAFC Win MLS Cup After Hollywood Epic

"I'm here to play a big part."

So said Gareth Bale back in July when he joined Los Angeles FC after nine years as a Real Madrid player.

Two goals in his first four Major League Soccer cameos followed before Bale went missing.

After watching Bale fail to net in eight straight games, LAFC boss Steve Cherundolo simply could not justify starting the Welshman in the MLS Cup final.

Indeed, Cherundolo was prepared to leave Bale on the bench for the entirety of Saturday's clash with Philadelphia Union.

But then the game ended 2-2 and went to extra time. With Cherundolo's troops tiring, Bale was thrown on in the 97th minute.

Moments later, LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau chopped down Cory Burke outside the penalty area and was eventually sent off following a VAR review.

Could 10-man LAFC hang on for a penalty shootout?

That looked almost impossible when Jack Elliott struck in the fourth minute of added time in extra time to give Philadelphia their first lead of the final.

But this Hollywood epic was not done yet. The star name had yet to deliver his line.

Bale's "big part" arrived with 127:28 on the clock. Diego Palacios stood up a cross from the left byline and Bale bulleted a header into the net.

Gareth Bale pictured heading the ball to score for LAFC in the 2022 MLS Cup final

Fox Soccer

Bale (center) and his teammates celebrated in front of the LAFC fans

IMAGO/ZUMA Wire/JAVIER CARDONA

The crowd went wild. Bale went wild. He had delivered on his promise.

But the game was not won yet. The penalty shootout required another hero.

Goalkeeper John McCarthy, who had been subbed on for Kwadwo Opoku following Crepeau's red card, saved two of Philadelphia's three spot-kicks as LAFC won the shootout 3-0.