Behind goals by Yaw Yeboah and Cucho Hernandez, the Columbus Crew were able to secure their third MLS Cup in club history defeating Los Angeles FC 2-1 on Saturday at Lower.com Field. It's their first since 2020 and it was quite a dominant performance to get there, coming from two goals down in the semifinals against FC Cincinnati to claim another crown. Hernandez was named MLS Cup MVP following the match.
With the victory, Wilfried Nancy became the first black head coach to win MLS Cup in league history. Coming out of the gates strong, Yeboah was able to draw a handball for Hernandez to convert a penalty in the first half before scoring one of the best team goals you'll see in the competition as center back Malte Amundsen split LAFC's lines for Yeboah moments later.
Denis Bouanga would get one back after Patrick Schulte's save with his face wasn't enough to fully clear the ball but LAFC left their attacking too late in the match as Carlos Vela and Giorgio Chiellini may have played their final games for the Black and Gold. For how talented LAFC are, it was shocking that they were unable to get out of their own half in the first half of play but that speaks volumes of how Nancy's gameplan worked.
Aggressive in and out of possession, not many teams have the fitness levels to accomplish what the Crew did while also not allowing easy chances but it was an excellent match from start to finish. The Crew's ability to recycle the ball in space made it impossible for LAFC to get the ball back and then Yeboah had the entire left side of the pitch at his disposal and he used it well. It's as simple as Nancy outcoaching Steve Cherundolo in the match, pressing the right buttons, and it makes it exciting to see what's next for the Crew who have a squad in place to continue to contend for more silverware.
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It got nervy near the end but they were able to ride a two goal halftime lead to become MLS Cup champions. Cucho Hernandez paced the team but everyone got involved and was needed to keep the pressure up against LAFC constantly. Lower.com Field was rocking the entire night and now it's really about to turn into a party as we move to the trophy lift.
Ramirez was taken down but no foul was called and it also wouldn't have been a penalty leaving it out of VAR's scope. LAFC are quickly running out of time but the Crew have tightened up defensively.
This is important for time and having fresh legs as Nagbe, Yeboah and Cucho have exited. There will be extensive stoppage time and the rain is also picking up but with how much energy has been expended by the Crew this does make sense as long as the match is ended in regulation.
You can't give him too many chances as even with Schulte laying everything out to make the first save with his face, Bouanga wouldn't be denied his goal as it's his record tying 38th goal in all competitions. Evan Bush may have to enter as Schulte is still being checked.
They turned over Rossi in the box for an excellent chance to counter and even Bouanga fired a ball across the face of net but it wasn't anticipated by Carlos Vela and the excellent chance is over. This is turning into one of those nights for LAFC.
Tillman has exited for Mateusz Bogusz. Already on a yellow card, Tillman was at risk of being sent off but this will also give the Black and Gold a more dynamic midfield attack.
It took quite a goal line clearance after Cucho was chopped down by Carlos Vela but even with Cucho down, Columbus had no issue continuing their counter to create a big chance. Every time the Crew have the ball it's testing Crepeau.
The two goal deficit isn't insurmountable for LAFC but in the second half it has been more of the same with the Crew asking questions right out of the gate.
For the Crew, they can't ask for a better start in the first half but heading into the break, Nancy is already calling for balance. He knows that if the game keeps the current pace that LAFC will have too many chances to get back into it during the second half so adjustments will be important without losing their trademark aggression.
Yeboah drew the penalty but now he found the back of the net as LAFC's defense collapsed completely as Hollingshead was beaten and the Crew now double their lead in the first half.
He finishes with confidence and sends Crepeau the wrong way and the Crew are ahead in the 33rd minute of play. This is his 24th goal in all competitions. Cucho also made history as this is the first goal that the Crew have ever scored against LAFC.
This is going to go to VAR as a handball was given to Palacios following Yeboah's cross. After a review, it is given quickly.
It's another one from the Crew as LAFC cleared out another attack but one of these chances will find the back of the net eventually.
The possession advantage is drastic with the Crew holding the ball for 71% of the match so far. While they've only turned that into two shots, the moments have been there for the Crew to exploit but Los Angeles isn't even punishing their aggression on the counter.
In what may be his final game with LAFC the 39-year-old made an important intervention to stop Cucho from finding Rossi in the final third. If he misses in that clearance, the Crew probably have the opening goal of the game.
They're halfway to their goal of controlling the flow on the pitch as LAFC are on the back foot but the ball hasn't gotten into great positions until Diego Rossi was able to draw a corner kick.
The first possession leads to a LAFC throw in as Lower.com Field is rocking to start.
The Crew fans are ready to cheer their team on with a chance to lift MLS Cup in front of their home faithful as the 2020 MLS title wasn't able to be played in front of a full stadium.
Denis Bouanga for LAFC and Cucho Hernandez on Columbus have been excellent in every way, giving each defense quite a task to deal with. Columbus have allowed six goals in the playoffs only shutting out Atlanta without Thiago Almada and a 10 man Orlando City side. Attacking has been their best defense so far. Playing in such an open match could favor LAFC who scored the most goals in a playoff match this season, putting five past the Vancouver Whitecaps. Bounaga and Ryan Hollingshead both had braces in the match, which is a nice reminder that if you focus too much on the forwards, their defenders, like Hollingshead can also make you pay. Soccer is usually a game of inches, but if these teams get those inches, each of them are so good they can turn that space into chances which will make this a high paced exciting final.
The benches still have stars that can change the game but this is how the Crew and LAFC will start the match.
Columbus: Schulte, Amundsen, Camacho, Moreira, Yeboah, Morris, Nagbe, Farsi, Rossi, Cucho, Matan
LAFC: Crepeau, Palacios, Chiellini, Murillo, Hollingshead, Acosta, Sanchez, Tillman, Bouanga, Vela, Olivera
LAFC are a team that has been there and done that. They won MLS Cup last season and while Gareth Bale may be gone after netting the winner in extra time of that affair, most of the team that lifted the cup is still there under Steve Cherundolo. But it's not only MLS Cup, the Black and Gold have also made deep runs into Concacaf Champions League as well. And even before joining LAFC thanks to the caliber of players recruited, this is an experienced side. For the Crew, Aidan Morris played in the 2020 MLS Cup triumph while Darlington Nagbe missed the match due to COVID. But with the Crew having home field advantage for the final, it may not matter. Nancy has been adamant about how preparation for MLS Cup is the same as for any other game but it's one thing to say that and another to keep composure when the lights shine brightest.
After missing the 2020 MLS Cup due to COVID, Darlington Nagbe will have a chance to make up for that and lead the Crew to their second championship in three years. That 2020 miss turned out to also be an opportunity for Aidan Morris. The young midfielder started in place of Nagbe in that MLS Cup final, prior to breaking in and becoming a regular for the Crew. Now, two of the first names on the team sheet, Morris and Nagbe help provide a flexible pivot for the attackers in front of them to play off of. They'll need to use all of their guile to get past LAFC's midfield three as Kellyn Acosta, Ilie Sanchez, and Timmy Tillman all complement each other well.
Ilie is the most defensive-minded of the three, but all of them will happily take turns sitting back and diving into tackles. But then Acosta brings threats from set plays while Tillman is a true box to box midfielder. It's a balance that helps the Black and Gold's forwards run free, but if the trio can't get past Morris and Nagbe, this game could quickly become one way traffic.
Today is the day that MLS Cup will be decided as the Crew and LAFC meet in Columbus. Despite restrictions to the LAFC Supporters' group the 3252, it will still be a great atmosphere at Lower.com Field for the affair. With over 60 goal contributions between Cucho Hernandez for Columbus and Denis Bouanga for LAFC, there is some serious forward firepower in the match but those two won't be the only players to watch during the match.
