The field has been whittled from 14 to two and it will be Supporters’ Shield-winning LAFC hosting the Philadelphia Union in MLS Cup Saturday at 4 p.m. ET from Banc of California Stadium.

We’ll take a look at how both teams got here and who the main protagonists are as both LAFC and the Philadelphia Union look to lift their first MLS Cup trophy. 

LAFC

Regular season record: 21-9-4, 67 points

Western Conference seed: 1 

MLS Cup road: 

First Round: Bye 

Western Conference Semifinals: 4-3 W vs. LA Galaxy 

Western Conference Final: 3-0 W vs. Austin FC

Players to watch: Carlos Vela, Denis Bouanga, Cristian Arango, Giorgio Chiellini

After winning their second Supporters’ Shield title in four years, LAFC earned the right to host the MLS Cup Final and then backed it up with their play on the field in the playoffs, surviving a threat from the rival LA Galaxy in a thrilling 4-3 triumph before an absolute smackdown of Austin FC, a 3-0 victory Sunday at Banc of California Stadium which secured the club’s first-ever MLS Cup appearance. 

A year removed from missing the MLS Cup playoffs, Bob Bradley left to become the head coach and technical director at Toronto FC and Steve Cherundolo was brought in as the club’s second-ever head coach. 

LAFC brought in MLS veterans during the offseason, obtaining defender Ryan Hollingshead, midfielder Kellyn Acosta and goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau in trades and signing defensive midfielder Ilie Sanchez via free agency. 

And then they made a made a splash in the transfer market during the summer, making global headlines with the signings of superstars Gareth Bale from Real Madrid and Italian legend Giorgio Chiellini from Juventus, followed by arguably the most impactful addition, at least on the field, when they brought in forward Denis Bouanga from Saint-Etienne to go along with Cristian Tello arriving from Real Betis. 

What transpired was shaping up to potentially be the greatest regular season in MLS history if not for a hiccup in late summer that saw LAFC win just once in a six-game stretch. 

Though they fell short of the MLS record for regular season points, set a year ago by the New England Revolution with 72 or even the 71 the 2019 LAFC side secured in the club’s first Supporters’ Shield-winning campaign, LAFC claimed the Shield again on the wins tiebreaker after finishing tied on points with Philadelphia. 

By earning the top seed, LAFC also secured a first-round bye and then had their hands full with an epic El Trafico showdown against the rival Galaxy. Bouanga buried a brace and Cristian Arango netted the stoppage-time winner to secure a wild 3-2 win for LAFC. 

On Sunday, against an Austin FC that twice beat them during the regular season, LAFC dominated the visitors as Arango opened the scoring in the first half and, after a Maxi Urruti own goal, Kwadwo Opoku closed the comprehensive win off in the 81st minute. 

Philadelphia Union 

Regular season record: 19-5-10, 67 points

Eastern Conference seed: 1 

MLS Cup road: 

First Round: Bye 

Eastern Conference Semifinals: 1-0 W vs. FC Cincinnati  

Eastern Conference Final: 3-1 W vs. NYCFC

Players to watch: Andre Blake, Daniel Gazdag, Jakob Glesnes, Julian Carranza 

The narrative was pretty simple. A year ago, the Philadelphia Union hosted New York City FC in the Eastern Conference final, but were down 11 players, including several starters due to positive COVID-19 tests. 

The shorthanded Union battled, and led in the second half, before NYCFC scored twice late to pull out the win and advance to MLS Cup, where they beat the Portland Timbers on penalty kicks to claim their first title. 

A year later, in the rematch, the Union fell behind on a Maxi Moralez goal in the 57th minute, but an offensive explosion for the hosts followed with Julian Carranza and Daniel Gazdag scoring two minutes apart and Cory Burke following with an insurance strike in the 76th minute to send Philadelphia to their first MLS Cup appearance. 

It doesn’t always play out in the crapshoot of a one-off playoff tournament, but the best two teams from the 34-game regular season have reached the final. It’s the first time since 2003 when the San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Chicago Fire, that the top two teams in both conferences reached the MLS Cup final. 

Philadelphia were dominant during the regular season, finishing fifth in league history for goals scored (72) and the fewest goals conceded (26) in a 34-game season. 

Defensively, the Union are anchored by goalkeeper Andre Blake, who became the first in MLS history to win Goalkeeper of the Year for a third time. Philadelphia also claimed Defender of the Year (Jakob Glesnes) and Coach of the Year (Jim Curtin) and in Daniel Gazdag (22g/10a) have a darkhorse MVP candidate. 

There’s also standouts in fullback Kai Wagner, center back Jack Elliott and forwards Carranza and Designated Player Mikael Uhre, were the biggest incoming transfers this season. 

Carranza, who arrived on loan and was subsequently signed from Inter Miami, had 14 goals and nine assists during the season. 

Uhre, signed from Brøndby IF in Denmark, added 13 goals and six assists in his first season with the club.

Following a first round bye, the Union survived a rock fight with FC Cincinnati, winning 1-0 on a rare Leon Flach goal, in the Eastern Conference semifinals to set up the revenge showdown with NYCFC. 

Perhaps fittingly, LAFC and Philadelphia played to a 2-2 draw in their lone regular season meeting back in May with Gazdag and Carranza giving the visitors a lead in each half, only to have Opoku and Franco Escobar to level for the hosts in an entertaining clash. 

So now the scene is set. On what will likely be a sunny Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles, it’s high-flying, big-spending glamorous LAFC hosting gritty hard-working Philadelphia. It’s contrasting philosophies and styles with a first MLS Cup to the victor.