Battle of the Best: Winners and losers as Union take down 2021 MLS Cup champions NYCFC to book Hollywood clash with LAFC

He hadn't scored since August. Even as the Union continued to absolutely light up teams, Carranza couldn't find a goal.

Well, he sure found one on Sunday. And what a time to do it.

NYCFC's lead lasted eight whole minutes before the Carranza show began. His strike was completely out of nowhere as the Union pounced on an unsuspecting NYCFC, who were caught unprepared for a set piece.

Exactly two minutes later, there was Carranza again, heading a pass into the path of Gazdag. All of a sudden, the Union were in total control as Subaru Park erupted once, then again, and they never stopped the rest of the way.

The Union attack by committee with several players capable of making things happen. In this game, it was Carranza, who gave himself and his team plenty of reason to believe as they head toward MLS Cup.

The headline is a little cruel because we aren't here to pick on Haak, who was placed into an uncomfortable position in an extremely difficult situation.

It wasn't Haak that lost NYCFC game, but rather a different battle. All week, NYCFC was forced to fight off the injury bug, and they lost.

Haak, a midfielder, was thrust into a starting berth due to the absence of Maxime Chanot. Haak was asked to play in a James Sands-esque role for just the second time, with the first being the second half of last week's Eastern Conference semifinal against CF Montreal.

It didn't work.

Haak struggled mightily during Philly's three-goal blitz, despite being relatively good up until then. He was caught out of position, much like the rest of NYCFC's backline on the first two goals, while he was absolutely bullied by Corey Burke on the third.

Haak is just 21, so there will be better days ahead in more comfortable positions. This just wasn't his day or his game, and it was one of the keys to NYCFC's undoing.

It's a moment that may go overlooked, but never underappreciated.

Just moments after scoring the first, NYCFC came inches away from getting a second, denying Alexander Callens with a strong fist. Blake, effectively, saved the game in that moment and kickstarted a furious comeback that pushed the Union to the MLS Cup finale.

And no one deserved it more. Blake only had three saves in this game, but this moment was about the countless others that have come over the years. The former No. 1 overall pick is the club's longest-tenured player and almost certainly the best this team has ever seen.

From the Rais M'Bolhi era to an MLS Cup final appearance, Blake has been there for it all and, against LAFC's high-powered attack, Philly will be glad to have the Jamaican on their side.

Blake can win a game on his own sometimes. He really is that good. Can he do it against LA? We're going to find out.

It all just makes you what might have been.

This summer lost their best goalscorer, a legitimate MVP and Golden Boot candidate. They also lost their coach, who led them to an MLS Cup trophy last season.

And yet here they were, 30 minutes away from returning to the league's final game. Despite all of that, they came that close.

Could they have done it with Taty Castellanos up top and Ronny Deila on the bench? Maybe. Could this have been a different game if they kept those two for the rest of the season? Very possibly.

But there are no ifs, buts, or maybes in this game. NYCFC were what they were entering this game: talented, but just missing something. Between the injury glut and a destabilizing summer, they made it this far but just couldn't get over the hump.

It'll sting knowing that, but there's also a clear path forward for a team that does look set to remain among the elite if they get their winter signings right.

It's not often that the MLS playoffs work out the way they should. There's always an upset, an injury, a shootout... something. This format is too volatile for things to go to plan.

Yet here we are. The two best teams in MLS, who were completely clear of everyone else for the entire regular season, will meet with a trophy on the line.

LAFC was very clearly the best in the West. Same for the Union in the East. And they've both survived to get to the game that everyone wants to see.

The league's two best attacks will face off, as will probably the league's two best defenses, too. This is a marquee matchup worthy of Hollywood, where this clash will be held.

Get your popcorn ready. This is going to be a good one.