LAFC and the Philadelphia Union are two of the the best teams in MLS.

Though the two sides have only played each other a handful of times, every game has left drama and fireworks on the field.

The Black and Gold lead the head-to-head match-up with just one win, showing how evenly matched each game has been.

As they face each other over two legs in the CONCACAF Champions League semi finals, another chapter of this budding rivalry will be written in the history books.

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LAFC won the first of their five meetings with the Union in a 4-1 victory that saw Adama Diomande score three times for the Black and Gold.

For the Union, the lone goal they scored came from winger Fafa Picult in the 45th minute. 

In a lopsided game, LAFC deployed a largely rotational side that fielded Lee Nguyen on the left wing in place of captain Carlos Vela.

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The next meeting between the two sides was slightly more competitive.

Philadelphia managed to draw LAFC in a thrilling 1-1 matchup that saw the Union score in the opening three minutes through center forward Kacper Przybylko. 

However, it wouldn’t take LAFC long before they would equalize. Carlos Vela would take it into his own hands and get the Black and Gold a tying goal in the 43rd minute with a scrappy goal in the penalty box. 

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Next game these two sides played was on for the history books.

In a thrilling 3-3 draw hosted at then Banc of California Stadium, the Union and LAFC played a hard fought match that saw six goal scored.

For LAFC, Diego Rossi, Eddie Segura and Carlos Vela got on the score sheet.

On the Union side, Sergio Santos, Jakob Glesnes and Brenden Aaronson were equally clinical in front of goal, also scoring three time respectively. 

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In this five-game series, the penultimate game between LAFC and the Union happened months before their MLS Cup final meeting in late 2022.

Like most of their other matches in the series, the game ended in a 2-2 draw that saw LAFC dominate possession.

For Philadelphia, Daniel Gazdag and Julian Caranza got on the scoresheet for the men dressed in electric yellow and blue. LAFC had Kwdawo Opoku and Franco Escobar netted twice to see the Black and Gold pull out a draw.

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Possibly the most notable fixture between the two sides happened during the MLS Cup Final on November 5th, 2022. 

In what was a raucous game that saw devastating injuries, multiple late-game theatrics, and a legend of the game leaving his mark on history, the 2022 MLS Cup Final was a fitting way to end a crazy year.

With both teams tied at the end of regulation, topping it off with a Gareth Bale equalizer in the 128th minute, the two teams went to penalties.

Ultimately, LAFC persevered and came out on top, with midfielder Illie Sanchez scoring the game-winning penalty. 

This victory for LAFC saw them win their first MLS Cup in club history. 

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Daniel Gazdag’s 86th-minute penalty looked to have given the Union the lead heading into the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions League semi final.

However, Kellyn Acosta levelled the game late on to hand LAFC the initiative heading to the return fixture on home turf.

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LAFC vs Philadelphia Union H2H record

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