The first year of Wilfried Nancy's tenure at the Columbus Crew ended with the ultimate high as his team lifted MLS Cup on Saturday.
The Crew beat last year's champions Los Angeles FC 2-1 after scoring twice in the first half. The hosts took the lead in the 33rd minute courtesy of a penalty scored by Best XI selectee Cucho Hernandez, and then added another to their tally four minutes later through Yaw Yeboah. LAFC pulled one back in the 74th minute through fellow Best XI honoree Denis Bouanga, but it was not enough to overcome the difference by the final whistle.
It completes an impressive ascent for Nancy, whose attractive style of play made the Crew one of the most entertaining teams to watch over the course of the season. He spent roughly a decade in different roles at CF Montreal but the head coaching gig fell into his lap at the start of preseason in 2021 upon Thierry Henry's sudden departure. He impressed enough to land the Crew job at the start of the year, and is now the first Black coach to win MLS Cup.
Here's a look at the Crew's path to MLS Cup, as well as all the other results during the playoffs.
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MLS Cup
Saturday, Dec. 9
Columbus Crew 2, Los Angeles FC 1
Playoff schedule
All times Eastern, all matches can be streamed on MLS Season Pass
Wildcard round: Wednesday, Oct. 25
New York Red Bulls 5, Charlotte FC 2
Sporting Kansas City 0, San Jose Earthquakes 0 (Sporting win 4-2 on penalties)
Round one schedule
Saturday, Oct. 28
Philadelphia Union 3, New England Revolution 1
Los Angeles FC 5, Vancouver Whitecaps 2
Sunday, Oct. 29
Houston Dynamo FC 2, Real Salt Lake 1
FC Cincinnati 3, New York Red Bulls 0
St. Louis City SC 1, Sporting Kansas City 4
Monday, Oct 30
Orlando City SC 0, Nashville SC 0
Seattle Sounders 2, FC Dallas 0
Wednesday, Nov. 1
Columbus Crew 2, Atlanta United 0
Saturday, Nov. 4
New York Red Bulls 1, FC Cincinnati 1 (Cincinnati wins 8-7 on penalties, wins series 2-0)
FC Dallas 3, Seattle Sounders 1
Sunday, Nov. 5
Sporting Kansas City 2, St. Louis City SC 1 (Sporting KC win series, 2-0)
Vancouver Whitecaps 0, Los Angeles FC 1 (LAFC wins series, 2-0)
Monday, Nov. 6
Real Salt Lake 1, Houston Dynamo 1 (Real Salt Lake wins 5-4 on penalties)
Tuesday, November 7
Atlanta United 4, Columbus Crew 2
Nashville SC 0, Orlando City SC 1
Wednesday, Nov. 8
New England Revolution 0, Philadelphia Union 1 (Philadelphia wins series, 2-0)
Game 3's if needed
Friday, Nov. 10
Seattle Sounders 1, FC Dallas 0 (Seattle wins series, 2-1)
Saturday, Nov. 11
Houston Dynamo 1, Real Salt Lake 1 (Houston wins on penalties 4-3, wins series 2-1)
Sunday, Nov. 12
Columbus Crew 4, Atlanta United 2 (Columbus wins series, 2-1)
Conference Semifinals
Saturday, Nov. 25
Orlando City 0, Columbus Crew 2 (a.e.t.)
FC Cincinnati 1, Philadelphia Union 0
Sunday, Nov. 26
Houston Dynamo 1, Sporting Kansas City 0
Seattle Sounders 0, Los Angeles FC 1
Conference Finals
Saturday, Dec. 2
FC Cincinnati 2, Columbus Crew 3 (a.e.t.)
Los Angeles FC 2, Houston Dynamo 0
MLS Cup
Saturday, Dec. 9
Columbus Crew 2, Los Angeles FC 1
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