Americans defend Kellyn Acosta’s late foul on LAFC teammate Gareth Bale in World Cup draw with Wales

American football fans took aim at MLS star Gareth Bale after the Welshman scored the equalizing goal and signed a vital late penalty for his LAFC teammate in Monday’s 1-1 draw with the United States in the World Cup opener.

“He touched his shoulder and he fell like a Jenga tower,” tweeted one fan accusing Bale of embellishment.

Bale recorded an MLS Cup win with LAFC earlier this month, but that didn’t spare him the wrath of the Americans after his brilliant performance on Monday. Not only did he make a crucial foul on USMNT’s Walker Zimmerman resulting in a successful penalty kick in the 82nd minute, but Bale also nearly delivered the winning shot in stoppage time. Without a well-timed offense from Kellyn Acosta, Bale’s LAFC teammate, Wales could have escaped with a 2-1 victory over the USA.

Acosta drew a yellow card for his timely tackle, which prevented Bale from launching a winning shot from midfield in the ninth minute of stoppage time when American keeper Matt Turner was caught well out of position.

While many felt Acosta deserved a red card for the play, Americans accused Bale of a nosedive, or as it’s known in basketball, flopping.

“Bale flopped,” the fan wrote. “Challenge it.”

“Bale took a dive,” wrote another.

The two were teammates at an LAFC club that won its first MLS title earlier this month, thanks to a late equalizer from Bale and a 3-0 victory in the penalty shootout.

For LAFC fans, Monday’s clash provided a chance to laugh at their recent title.

“Bale probably said ‘I would have fouled me too’ to his LAFC teammate Acosta,” one fan wrote on Twitter with an attached photo of the two players smiling after the game.

While some hailed the penalty as a ‘great’ tactical error, others criticized the referees for not giving Acosta a red card, which would have prevented Acosta from playing in Friday’s game against England.

“Where the hell was the RED card?” complained one fan. “The American goalkeeper’s scoring opportunity was miles off his line!”

“Acosta is an imposter,” another fan wrote, “from there Gareth Bale could easily have scored. In any case, Acosta deserved a red card for a clear denial of a goal chance.

“We need to make a written law that Acosta can never set foot on Welsh soil after denying Bale the goal of the tournament,” added a Welsh fan, who suggested that Acosta be banned from Wales.

Others saw the penalty as both clever and deliberate.

“Was a smart foul [to be honest],” one fan wrote. “Was dirty but was smart. Was also hilarious because he mentioned it.’

That fan was referring to Grant Wahl’s recent interview with Acosta, who said he had an advantage heading into Monday’s game given his familiarity with Bale.

“We literally have to kick him across the field, make him feel us, and kind of limit his time and space,” Acosta told Wahl, who published the quotes at Substack.

“I know his tendencies, like here he wants to find the ball, what kind of runs he’s looking for,” Acosta continued. “Movements, how he behaves in the game. And so I think I have an advantage in that respect, and of course I kind of shared that with the guys here.”