MLS Cup 2022

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MLS Cup 2022
View of a soccer field from the stands of Banc of California Stadium with some players training on the field and a sparse number of fans in the stands. A third of the field is covered by shade.
Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, the host venue for MLS Cup 2022
EventMLS Cup
After extra time
Los Angeles FC won 3–0 on penalties
DateNovember 5, 2022 (2022-11-05)
VenueBanc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
MLS Cup MVPJohn McCarthy (Los Angeles FC)
RefereeIsmail Elfath
Attendance22,384
WeatherSunny, 66 °F (19 °C)[1]
2021
2023

MLS Cup 2022 was the 27th edition of the MLS Cup, the championship match of Major League Soccer (MLS) at the conclusion of the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs. The soccer match took place on November 5, 2022, at Banc of California Stadium (now known as BMO Stadium) in Los Angeles, California, United States. It was contested by hosts Los Angeles FC from the Western Conference and the Philadelphia Union of the Eastern Conference to determine the champion of the 2022 season. Both clubs finished the regular season atop the Supporters' Shield standings, but LAFC earned the title with the wins tiebreaker.

Los Angeles FC won their first MLS Cup title in a

stoppage time. The shootout ended in a 3–0 shutout for LAFC and their substitute goalkeeper John McCarthy, who made two saves in the shootout and was named the most valuable player
(MVP) of the match.

Road to the final

The MLS Cup is the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), a professional club soccer league in the United States and Canada. The 2022 season was the 27th in MLS history, and was contested by 28 teams that are organized into the eastern and western conferences.[2] Each team played 34 matches during the regular season, which runs from late February to early October, twice against each intra-conference opponent and eight times for inter-conference opposition in an unbalanced schedule.[3] The schedule was adjusted due to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which began in late November 2022.[4] The playoffs were contested between the top-seven clubs in each conference in four rounds from October to early November. Each round had a single-elimination match that was hosted by the higher-seeded team; the top team in each conference was also given a bye to the conference semifinals.[5]

Both of the finalists, Los Angeles FC (LAFC) and the Philadelphia Union (the Union), were appearing in their first MLS Cup final and finished atop the regular season table. The teams were tied on points and the Supporters' Shield was decided by the number of match each side had won that season; LAFC had two more wins than Philadelphia.[6] The two teams played each other once during the regular season, ending in a 2–2 draw in early May at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles; it was the third-consecutive draw between the two teams since 2019.[7] LAFC was characterized as having a "star-studded" lineup relying on international talent while the Union was a "blue-collar alternative" side that relied on data-based, cost-effective signings and homegrown products.[clarification needed][8]

MLS Cup 2022 was the fourth final to be contested between two regular-season winners and the first since the 2003 final, which was also played in the Los Angeles area;[9] it was also the fourth between two first-time finalists.[10][11] The final was the first since 2014 to not feature either Seattle Sounders FC or Portland Timbers representing the Western Conference.[12]

Los Angeles FC

Steve Cherundolo wearing a black-and-gray jacket with the logos of VfB Stuttgart and Puma.
Los Angeles FC hired head coach Steve Cherundolo (pictured in 2018) prior to the 2022 season.

Los Angeles FC (LAFC) entered MLS in 2018 as an expansion team, becoming the third club based in the Los Angeles area following the folding of Chivas USA a few years prior.[13] Under head coach Bob Bradley, LAFC won the Supporters' Shield in 2019 and broke the regular-season points record. They advanced in the playoffs to the Conference Final but were eliminated by eventual MLS Cup champions Seattle Sounders FC.[14] LAFC finished seventh in the West during the following year's season, which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic but still qualified for the playoffs. In the first round, Seattle again eliminated LAFC.[15] LAFC finished as runners-up in the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League but missed the playoffs in 2021.[16]

In January 2022, Steve Cherundolo, former assistant coach and manager of LAFC's affiliate club Las Vegas Lights FC, was hired to replace Bradley as head coach. Fans criticized the move, citing Cherundolo's inexperience in MLS and his coaching record at Las Vegas, where he won six of thirty-two matches.[17][18] During the off-season, LAFC traded with other MLS clubs to acquire new players, including defender Ryan Hollingshead from FC Dallas for Marco Farfan;[17] defender Franco Escobar from Atlanta United FC and midfielder Kellyn Acosta from Colorado Rapids, both for general allocation money;[19] and forward Ilie Sánchez from free agency.[20][21] LAFC also traded with Vancouver Whitecaps FC for goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, who joined his former manager-turned-assistant-coach Marc Dos Santos and free-agent signing John McCarthy as his backup to replace three young goalkeepers who had played in 2021.[22][23]

LAFC were undefeated in their opening five matches but lost to local rival LA Galaxy in the year's first El Tráfico derby.[24] LAFC were placed first in Western Conference during the streak and kept a narrow lead over Austin FC and LA Galaxy, including a run of eight matches in twenty-eight days, through April and May.[25][26] By late June, the mid-point in the season, LAFC had amassed a 11–3–3 record and were five points ahead of Austin in the Western standings, and had a five-match-unbeaten streak that ended with a loss to Vancouver.[27][28] LAFC made several major signings from European leagues during the summer transfer window, beginning with winger Gareth Bale from Real Madrid and Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, both of whom joined LAFC in July, having been acquired without transfer fees, and were signed to contracts that fell below the threshold for Designated Players.[21][29]

With their new signings, LAFC went on a seven-match winning streak that lasted into August and outscored opponents 19–5; Bale scored two goals as a substitute.

Dénis Bouanga.[33][34] These moves completed a summer transfer window in which the club spent $10 million and brought its payroll above $19 million.[35] The team earned a playoffs place on August 20, setting a record for earliest playoffs clinch at 25 matches[36] but LAFC won only one of their six following matches while playing several teams on the road.[37] LAFC briefly slid to second in the Supporters' Shield contest behind the Union in mid-September[38] but retook the lead and won the Shield on the penultimate matchday of the season in Portland.[17][39] Through the regular season, Cherundolo used 32 starting lineups and had difficulty integrating Bale, who did not play a full match and appeared 12 times.[40][41]

As the top seed in the Western Conference, LAFC earned a bye directly to the Conference semifinals, where they hosted crosstown rival LA Galaxy. A goal by Bouanga, who received a through ball in the penalty area from captain Carlos Vela, opened the scoring for LAFC in the 23rd minute. Galaxy equalized just before halftime through a misplayed header by Eddie Segura that Samuel Grandsir converted. Bouanga's second goal of the match, a tap-in from a ground cross sent by Ryan Hollingshead in the 80th minute, restored LAFC's lead for five minutes until a strike by Galaxy substitute Dejan Joveljić from outside the penalty area. LAFC won the match 3–2 with a goal in stoppage time by Cristian Arango, who converted a rebounded shot by Bouanga Jonathan Bond had saved.[42][43]

LAFC advanced to play second-seeded

penalty kick was not awarded following a video assistant referee review.[46] Kwadwo Opoku scored a third goal for LAFC in the 81st minute by collecting an Austin clearance that bounced to him at the top of the penalty area. Bouanga struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time but his goal was ruled out after Opoku was deemed to be in an offside position during the play, leaving LAFC with a 3–0 victory.[46][47] LAFC were the first Supporters' Shield winner since Toronto FC in 2017 to earn a place n the MLS Cup.[48]

Philadelphia Union

Andre Blake, wearing a blue goalkeeper jersey with the Philadelphia Union and Bimbo logos, holds a ball in his left glove with his right arm outstretched.
Andre Blake earned his third Goalkeeper of the Year Award with Philadelphia in 2022.

Philadelphia Union (the Union) entered MLS as an expansion team in 2010 and earned their first playoffs berth in their second season but were eliminated in the conference semifinals.

upset.[55][56]

In 2021, the Union finished second in the Eastern Conference and advanced to the conference finals, where they were eliminated by eventual champions

Kacper Przybylko and midfielder Jamiro Monteiro to other MLS clubs, and sought lower-priced players from overseas to supplement American players as replacements.[58][59]

The Union opened the 2022 season with a draw against Minnesota United FC and five consecutive wins, mostly against Eastern Conference opponents, to take the lead in league standings. The Union's success was attributed to a strong defense and performances from goalkeeper Andre Blake to compensate for a lack of goals scored.[24][60] Following a loss to Toronto FC that ended the winning streak,[61] the club drew seven of eight matches as they found difficulty retaining leads.[62] The Union remained first in the East and ended the streak with a 2–1 home win against New York City FC that was decided with a Cory Burke goal in stoppage time.[63]

On July 8, the Union won 7–0 in a match against D.C. United, setting a new club record for margin of victory and equaling the league record.[64] The club won their following four matches, including a 6–0 victory against Houston Dynamo FC, which brought them to second in the league standings and three points behind LAFC.[65] The Union sent Blake, and defenders Kai Wagner and Jakob Glesnes to the MLS All-Star Game and finished August with four wins and two losses, including back-to-back 6–0 wins over D.C. United and the Colorado Rapids.[66][67] The club won a playoff berth with their final win in August and remained in contention of the Supporters' Shield until losing 4–0 to expansion team Charlotte FC in the penultimate week of the season.[68] The Union won 4–0 in their regular-season finale against Toronto FC at home and tied LAFC on points in the Supporters' Shield contest but lost on the wins tiebreaker.[58][69]

The Union finished the regular season with the league's best goal difference (+46), the fewest goals conceded in a 34-match season in MLS history (26), and an unbeaten record at home with the most goals scored (49), equaling the league record.[70][71] For the club's regular-season performances, Jim Curtin won the Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year Award for the second time, Blake won his third MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award, and Glesnes was named the Defender of the Year.[72][73] Blake, Glesnes, Wagner, and Gazdag, all of whom tied for second-most from a single team in league history, were named to the MLS Best XI.[74] The Union entered the playoffs in the conference semifinals, where they hosted fifth-place FC Cincinnati, who were in the playoffs for the first time.[75] Leon Flach scored the match's only goal in the 59th minute during a scramble in the penalty area as the Union advanced with a 1–0 win; Blake made six saves to earn his 16th shutout of the year.[76]

The Eastern Conference Final at Subaru Park was a repeat of the previous year's final with New York City FC, who were without forward Talles Magno and defender Maxime Chanot.[77][78] New York City FC took the lead in the 57th minute with a strike from Maximiliano Moralez following a six-player passing sequence that began with goalkeeper Sean Johnson. A free kick from Glesnes in the 65th minute reached Julián Carranza, who scored the equalizer for the Union; Carranza then provided an assist on a goal two minutes later that was finished from close range by Gazdag.[77] Substitute Cory Burke scored the match's final goal in the 76th minute, having won the ball in midfield and dribbled it into the penalty area to provide an assist but was able to finish a mis-timed clearance from the NYCFC defense.[79] The 3–1 result gave the Union their 11th consecutive home victory, equaling the longest streak in MLS history, and an undefeated record at home in 2022.[80][81]

Summary of results

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).
Los Angeles FC Round Philadelphia Union
1st place in Western Conference
Pos Team Pld Pts
1 Los Angeles FC 34 67
2 Austin FC 34 56
3 FC Dallas 34 53
4 LA Galaxy 34 50
5 Nashville SC 34 50
6 Minnesota United FC 34 48
7 Real Salt Lake 34 47
Source: MLS

     Qualified for playoffs
     Qualified for CONCACAF Champions League

Regular season 1st place in Eastern Conference
Pos Team Pld Pts
1 Philadelphia Union 34 67
2 CF Montréal 34 65
3 New York City FC 34 55
4 New York Red Bulls 34 53
5 FC Cincinnati 34 49
6 Inter Miami CF 34 48
7 Orlando City SC 34 48
Source: MLS

     Qualified for playoffs
     Qualified for CONCACAF Champions League

Opponent Score MLS Cup Playoffs Opponent Score
Bye First round Bye
LA Galaxy 3–2 (H) Conference Semifinals FC Cincinnati 1–0 (H)
Austin FC 3–0 (H) Conference Finals New York City FC 3–1 (H)

Venue

MLS Cup 2022 was hosted on November 5, 2022, by LAFC at their home stadium Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The soccer-specific stadium seats 22,000 people and opened in April 2018.[82] Tickets were released days before the match and immediately sold out;[83] ticket prices ranged from $450 to $10,000 on secondary markets.[84] To promote the match, several Los Angeles landmarks, including City Hall and Union Station, were lit with gold lights, and the club's flag was raised at Venice Beach and aboard USS Iowa. Local restaurant chain Pink's Hot Dogs offered an "LAFC Dog" during the week leading up to the final.[85]

Due to a home

TAP cards for attendees,[86] as well as a shuttle bus from Dodger Stadium with free parking.[87][88] LAFC opened the stadium at 10:30 a.m. to encourage early arrivals and sold half-price concessions during the first hour.[89]

The Union organized hotel-and-ticket packages for 460 fans to travel to the MLS Cup final in Los Angeles.[90][91] The Union partnered with supporters group Sons of Ben to organize four free watch parties at venues in the Philadelphia area, including their home stadium Subaru Park.[92][93]

Broadcasting

The MLS Cup 2022 match was broadcast in the United States on

Abu Dhabi Sports in the Middle East and North Africa, and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[96][97]

SiriusXM FC provided satellite radio coverage with commentators Joe Tolleson, Tony Meola, and Keith Costigan.[83] For the Los Angeles radio market, the match was carried in English by ESPN 710 and in Spanish by KFWB 980.[96] In Philadelphia, Fox Sports Radio broadcast the match in English;[98] the Union also had a radio stream on their website with local television commentators JP Dellacamera and Danny Higginbotham.[83][99]

The U.S. broadcast drew 2.16 million viewers, with 1.49 million on Fox and 668,000 on Univision, and had a national

UEFA Champions League Final.[102] The MLS Cup final's penalty shootout was watched by approximately 26 percent of all households in the Philadelphia market; the market was also the largest for the Fox broadcast with a rating that averaged 4.78 (347,000 viewers) and peaked at 7.6 (552,000 viewers).[100] The second-highest rating in the Houston market was one-third of Philadelphia's and is thought to have been affected by the World Series, which Fox broadcast immediately after the match.[100] The largest market for the Univision broadcast was Los Angeles with a 1.06 rating, which made it the second-most-watched LAFC match in their home market after the 2019 Conference Semifinal against LA Galaxy.[103]

Match

Summary

Soccer player Jack Elliott, wearing a dark blue Philadelphia Union jersey with white shorts and socks, on a soccer field during training.
Union defender Jack Elliott (pictured in 2017) scored two goals in the MLS Cup final

The MLS Cup final kicked off at 1:05 p.m. under clear skies and in front of 22,384 spectators, including 500 fans from Philadelphia in the southeast corner.

Gogeta, which shares the club's black-and-gold color scheme, and set off smoke flares.[109]

The Union had the majority of possession and chances to start the first half but were unable to convert them into shots on goal.[110] LAFC won a free kick near the penalty area that was awarded for a foul by José Andrés Martínez on Cristian Arango and used it to take the lead in the 28th minute; Jack McGlynn, who had jumped as part of the wall, deflected Kellyn Acosta's shot into the goal.[111] LAFC won a free kick from a similar spot in the 39th minute they almost used to score but Andre Blake saved Diego Palacios's shot from close range.[107][112] The Union responded with their own chance in the 43rd minute as Carranza started a counter-attack and fed the ball to Mikael Uhre, who dribbled it into the penalty area but lost it to Crépeau's block.[111] The teams entered half-time with eight shots but LAFC held a 1–0 lead and the Union had the majority of possession.[105][113]

The Union had their next chance to score early in the second half but several LAFC defenders stopped Uhre's run into the penalty area. The match was stopped twice within two minutes to check LAFC's Arango and the Union's

yellow card for a collision with Blake during a corner kick, for which the goalkeeper had jumped to save.[105] In the 83rd minute, centerback Jesús David Murillo headed in a Carlos Vela corner kick to give LAFC a 2–1 lead. The Union equalized two minutes later with a header from centerback Jack Elliott off a Kai Wagner free kick that was sent into the penalty area.[111][112] During the celebrations, cups of beer thrown from the stands struck several Union players.[113] During stoppage time, LAFC attempted to retake the lead with a set piece but shortly before the end of regulation time, Blake saved a header by defender Sebastien Ibeagha.[1][105]

The match entered extra time and LAFC had a chance to score after a loose ball that was misplayed by Blake but out of range for Dénis Bouanga. Julián Carranza had a chance to score for the Union shortly before extra time's half-time, but was unable to head the cross from Kai Wagner into the goal.[1][110] In the 110th minute, a long overhead ball from Mbaizo was misplayed by Murillo, whose backpass to his own goal was collected by Union substitute Cory Burke, who collided with Crépeau as he ran from the penalty area. Crépeau broke his right leg during the challenge and left the stadium in an ambulance,[115] and Burke was substituted a few minutes later.[111][116] Elfath initially showed Crépeau a yellow card but after consulting with the video assistant referee, sent him off in the 116th minute while leaving the pitch for his injury.[111][117] LAFC played the rest of the match with 10 players and substituted Kwadwo Opoku for back-up goalkeeper John McCarthy, a former Union player and Philadelphia-area native who had only played once in the 2022 regular season.[112][116]

Elfath awarded nine minutes of stoppage time due to the pauses in play to evaluate and treat Crépeau and Burke, as well as other interruptions.[110] The Union pressed for a third goal and scored one in the 124th minute through a corner kick by Wagner that was cleared and returned to the penalty area several times. Carranze directed Wagner's cross toward the goal by and McCarthy saved from close range but Elliot tapped in the rebound from 3 yards (2.7 m), scoring his second goal of the final.[86][110] Elliott and several celebrating players were again showered with beer cans and cups thrown by the stands.[118] In the 128th minute, LAFC equalized through a Diego Palacios cross Gareth Bale headed in; Bale had entered as a substitute during extra time and out-jumped Elliott for the ball.[114] It was the latest goal scored in MLS Cup Playoffs history, replacing Elliott's goal scored four minutes earlier, and tied the match at 3–3 through the end of extra time.[119]

The 2022 final was the sixth MLS Cup to be decided by a

penalty shootout, which had also been used the previous year.[112] Cristian Tello took LAFC's first penalty, which Blake saved, but Gazdag slipped while running, resulting in a miss that kept the shootout scoreless.[110] Bouanga scored his second-round penalty while McCarthy saved Martínez's attempt after reading his stutter step.[111] A successful conversion by Ryan Hollingshead, who sent Blake the wrong way, was followed by a McCarthy save on Kai Wagner to set up a decider in the fourth round. Ilie Sánchez's shot toward the bottom-right corner went under Blake during his attempt at a diving save, ending the shootout at 3–0 for LAFC.[110]

Details

Los Angeles FC3–3 (a.e.t.)Philadelphia Union
Report
Penalties
3–0
Attendance: 22,384
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Los Angeles FC
Philadelphia Union
GK 16 Canada Maxime Crépeau Red card 116'
RB 24 United States Ryan Hollingshead
CB 3 Colombia Jesús David Murillo
CB 25 United States Sebastien Ibeagha Yellow card 87'
LB 12 Ecuador Diego Palacios
CM 20 Ecuador José Cifuentes Yellow card 65'
CM 6 Spain Ilie Sánchez
CM 23 United States Kellyn Acosta downward-facing red arrow 91'
RF 10 Mexico Carlos Vela (c) downward-facing red arrow 97'
CF 9 Colombia Cristian Arango downward-facing red arrow 74'
LF 99
Dénis Bouanga
Substitutes:
GK 77 United States John McCarthy upward-facing green arrow 117'
DF 2 Argentina Franco Escobar
DF 4 Colombia Eddie Segura
DF 14 Italy Giorgio Chiellini
MF 7 Ghana Latif Blessing
MF 32
Sebas Méndez
FW 11 Wales Gareth Bale upward-facing green arrow 97'
FW 22 Ghana Kwadwo Opoku upward-facing green arrow 74' downward-facing red arrow 117'
FW 37 Spain Cristian Tello upward-facing green arrow 91'
Manager:
United States Steve Cherundolo
Diagram of the starting lineups for MLS Cup 2022, showing the Philadelphia Union at the top in blue and Los Angeles FC at the bottom in black.
GK 18 Jamaica Andre Blake (c)
RB 15 Cameroon Olivier Mbaizo
CB 5 Norway Jakob Glesnes
CB 3 England Jack Elliott Yellow card 14'
LB 27 Germany Kai Wagner
DM 8 Venezuela José Martínez
CM 16 United States Jack McGlynn downward-facing red arrow 84'
CM 31 United States Leon Flach
AM 6 Hungary Dániel Gazdag
CF 9 Argentina Julián Carranza Yellow card 90+1'
CF 7 Denmark Mikael Uhre downward-facing red arrow 71'
Substitutes:
GK 1 United States Matt Freese
DF 2 United States Matthew Real
DF 26 United States Nathan Harriel
MF 11 United States Alejandro Bedoya
MF 20 Venezuela Jesús Bueno
MF 30 United States Paxten Aaronson upward-facing green arrow 84'
MF 33 United States Quinn Sullivan
FW 19 Jamaica Cory Burke upward-facing green arrow 71' downward-facing red arrow 120+1'
FW 25 United States Chris Donovan upward-facing green arrow 120+1'
Manager:
United States Jim Curtin

MLS Cup MVP: John McCarthy (Los Angeles FC)[120]

Assistant referees:[121]
Corey Rockwell
Ian Anderson
Fourth official:
Fotis Bazakos
Reserve assistant referee:
Joe Dickerson
Video assistant referee:
Drew Fischer
Assistant video assistant referee:
Jeff Muschik
Reserve video assistant referee:
Jeffrey Greeson

Match rules[5]

  • 90 minutes
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary
  • Penalty shootout
    if scores still level
  • Maximum of nine named substitutes
  • Maximum of five substitutions, with a sixth allowed in extra time. Each team is only given three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time, and at half-time in extra time. Two additional substitutions are available for concussed players.

Post-match

penalty shootout

LAFC became the fifteenth team to win the MLS Cup and the ninth new champion since 2013;[122] they were also the seventh host to win the MLS Cup in the decade since the neutral-site format was abolished.[8] The club was the eighth to win a domestic double—composed of the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup—and the first since Toronto FC in 2017.[119][120] Several of the club's celebrity owners, including Magic Johnson, Mia Hamm, and Will Ferrell, as well as other entertainment-industry figures, attended the match.[123] LAFC celebrated their MLS Cup title with 5,000 fans at Banc of California Stadium's Christmas Tree Lane the following day in lieu of a traditional parade.[124][125]

Steve Cherundolo became the second head coach to win the MLS Cup in his first year in the league, following

video calls to his teammates on the field and coach during the post-match press conference.[86][124] The following day, LAFC announced Crépeau would be unable to join the Canadian national team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to his injury.[116] Gareth Bale became the first player to score in the finals of the MLS Cup and UEFA Champions League, stating after the match he "seem[ed] to have a knack of doing that".[127] Bale retired from professional soccer in January 2023.[128]

The match was hailed as an "instant classic" and "the most thrilling" in the history of the MLS Cup;[110][129] other commentators also ranked it as among the best in the league's history.[130][131] The 2022 final equaled the highest-scoring MLS Cup final alongside the 2003 final, which was also the last time two top-seeded teams were finalists; it was also the first time both finalists had scored three goals.[122] Commissioner Don Garber said it "was Major League Soccer at its very best",[132] while Carlos Vela labeled the finish "a Hollywood movie".[133] Union coach Jim Curtin described the match as "chaotic" and "what a final should be", but also as "a heartbreaking loss, no question". He also stated he "lived through the 130 minutes and aged probably five, six years", and complimented his players on their accomplishment in getting to the final.[134][135] The Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball lost the World Series later in the day, making Philadelphia the first U.S. city to lose two major league sports championships on the same day.[136]

Both finalists had already qualified for the

aggregate to advance to their second continental final, which they lost.[139][140] As MLS Cup champions, LAFC also directly qualified for the knockout stage of the 2023 Leagues Cup and hosted the 2023 Campeones Cup against Tigres UANL of Mexico, losing in a penalty shootout.[141][142]

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