Summary: Los Angeles FC in the MLS final against Philadelphia (Sport 1)
In recent years, Gareth Bale has gone through a difficult time at Real Madrid, when he was severely criticized by football fans for his conduct and his non-committal approach to the club, where he earned 30 million euros per season and sat on the bench smiling.
Many already estimated that he was done with his career, when he decided to move to MLS, but the 33-year-old Welshman proved tonight (between Saturday and Sunday) that despite the criticisms and obituaries, one thing cannot be taken away from him: the wins.
Tonight, Bale led his Los Angeles FC team to the American League championship, after a penalty shootout victory in the final over the Philadelphia Union (0:3).
Bale scored a dramatic equalizer in the 128th minute, after coming on as a substitute in the 97th minute, in a game that ended in a crazy 3:3.
He scored the goal when he towered over the English brakeman Jack Elliott, who is 1.98 meters tall.
Watch the angle from the stands: the madness from Bale's goal
Bale's resume speaks for itself.
He scored in the Champions League final, scored in the Club World Cup final, scored in the Copa del Rey final, and tonight scored in the MLS final.
He led the Wales national team to the World Cup for the first time after 64 years, and brought his country to the first European Championship in its history.
This morning also in the Spanish media India - Gareth Bale is a legend.
"Bale's miracle", read the headline in the Spanish "AS", who was one of his biggest opponents in his days at Real, "at the end of a crazy final, Bale led Los Angeles FC to the championship, after it seemed that it was already impossible, only really great players can To make reality like this."
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At the end, Bale admitted that he probably has a knack for scoring in finals, after becoming the first player to score in the Champions League final and the MLS final.
The Welsh star's goal was the latest in MLS history and tied the game at 3-3 after LAFC had twice taken the lead, before being forced to play 10 men in extra time and then falling behind 3-2 in the 124th minute.
It was Bale's sixth goal in the final.
Three of them came in the Champions League final - one against Atlético Madrid in 2014 and two, including a spectacular goal kick, against Liverpool in 2018.
He also scored the winning goal against Barcelona in the 2014 Copa del Rey final before scoring to help Madrid win the Club World Cup final that year.
"It's always nice to score in the final and I seem to have the talent to do it," Bale said, "It's big. It's important for the club, it's important for the fans. We were with 10 players and it didn't really look like we were going to get anything out of the game. So credit goes to everyone who kept pushing, Keep fighting, and like I said, it was nice to get the goal and help the team. It's a great feeling."
Amazing every time.
Bale (Photo: Reuters)
what height
Bale (Photo: GettyImages, Kevork Djansezian)
Bale joined LAFC on a free transfer after eight years at Real Madrid.
He arrived in bad physical shape, which limited him to only two appearances in the lineup.
Coming off the bench in the 97th minute as extra time began, it was Bale's first appearance in the playoffs.
"It was a difficult transition, coming without a pre-season," admitted Bale.
"Trying to catch up, it was difficult, of course it was also difficult to move with my family.
"But I tried to keep fit as much as I can, try to help the team as much as I can on and off the field, and it's worth it when you have moments like today .
The most important thing was the goal, to win the MLS championship and we managed to do it."
The 33-year-old made it clear he is still not 100 per cent fit and admitted he is concerned about his fitness, just over two weeks before he is due to lead Wales to their first World Cup since 1958. "I feel better and better as time goes on," he said.
"I think it will be mentally difficult to prepare like this for the World Cup. You see how there are so many players who get injured and now they miss the World Cup. There is no doubt that it was on my mind, trying to make sure I am fully fit."
Wales' first game at the World Cup will be against... the USA on November 21. LAFC coach Steve Charondolo, who has made 87 appearances for the USA, joked that he hopes Bale doesn't play like that against the US team.
"I'm sure he doesn't want to, but I'll try," Bale responded with a smile.
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