This is the third MLS Cup title for the Columbus Crew after those they won in 2008 and 2020
LAFC, which in 2022 did a double with the MLS Cup and the MLS Supporters’ Shield, closed with another disappointment
The Columbus Crew were proclaimed MLS Cup champions this Saturday by beating Los Angeles FC (LAFC) 2-1 in the final, which had won this title last year.
The Colombian Juan Camilo ‘Cucho’ Hernández, from a penaltyand Yaw Yeboah scored the goals for the Ohio (USA) team, while Denis Bouanga, the top scorer in MLS this year, scored the goal for the Angelenos.
This is the third MLS Cup title for the Columbus Crew after those he achieved in 2008 and 2020.
The team coached by Wilfried Nancy and which has other notable Latin players such as The Uruguayan Diego Rossi thus completed a fabulous career in the MLS ‘playoffs’, in which they eliminated the Atlanta United of the Argentine Thiago Almada, the Orlando City of the Uruguayan Facundo Torres and the Cincinnati of the Argentine Luciano Acosta, who had been the best of the regular season.
For its part, LAFC, which in 2022 did a double with the MLS Cup and the MLS Supporters’ Shield, closed with another disappointment an exhausting and very demanding year in which he has achieved glory in several different competitions without finally lifting the trophy.
The team led by the Mexican Carlos Vela, whose continuity in Los Angeles is among questionslost the final of the Concacaf Champions League against León, fell in the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup against Monterrey and now took the knee in the final of the MLS Cup against the Columbus Crew.
Dominant Columbus Crew
With very intense rain at times in a packed Lower.com Field stadium in Columbus and with an extraordinary atmosphere, the match started with both teams very involved in their roles what was expected of them: the locals hoarding the ball and very aggressive in the rival field and the visitors sheltering behind and looking for a counterattack.
The Columbus Crew controlled the first half from start to finishwith authority and a lot of confidence in all their lines, and also nullified LAFC’s quick transitions.
Their three forward men (‘Cucho’, Rossi and Alexandru Matan) constantly and dangerously alternated their positions to confuse the LAFC defense, which very soon it started to show cracks to cover its sides.
‘Cucho’ tried on both sides and in the 23rd minute he unleashed a very good shot from afar that didn’t go far past Crépeau’s right post. Four minutes later, Rossi tried it from the top of the area and his shot went to the left side of his former team’s goal.
After half an hour of incontestable dominance, The Columbus Crew found reward for their efforts with a penalty by a handball from Ecuadorian Diego Palacios that ‘Cucho’ sent into the net in the 33rd minute.
The much left LAFC very touchedwho suffered a new blow just four minutes later.
Malte Amundsen pulled a beautiful and precise pass out of his hat for Yeboah, who beat Ryan Hollingshead and finished brilliantly against Crepeau with his left foot.
The bad news was piling up for the team led by Steve Cherundolo: Bouanga and Vela were missing and their best player in the first half had been the Colombian center back Jesús Murillo.
However, Bouanga’s first appearance, already in injury time, almost did not end up in the net, as He gave the ball to Uruguayan Cristian Olivera and his cross was very close to ending in an own goal for the Columbus Crew.
The advantage at half-time was notable but The Columbus Crew had a very recent lesson learned: They themselves came back from 2-0 down against Cincinnati last week to end up winning 2-3 in overtime.
Thus, ‘Cucho’ and Yeboah, both a constant headache for LAFC, they returned to the charge in the resumption and they barely missed a third target, which practically would have been the sentence.
The LAFC did not find a way to impose its law, to dispute the dominance of the Columbus Crew, and only reached the rival area with isolated actions by Vela and Bouanga.
The Gabonese striker flirted with the goal in a clever appearance on the left, but His center walked next to the goal without any teammate being able to put their leg in.
Bouanga did get it right in 74. Murillo anticipated Rossi wonderfully In advanced pressure, he launched the counterattack and Bouanga, who missed a very clear shot, was able to convert the rebound.
It seemed that LAFC would launch a frontal and overwhelming siege in the final stretchbut the Columbus Crew held on very well in the outcome with hardly any scares and took the title and unleashed euphoria among their fans.
– Data sheet:
2. Columbus Crew: Schulte; Moreira, Camacho, Amundsen; Farsi (Ramírez, m.86), Nagbe (Zawadzki, m.84), Morris, Yeboah (Cheberko, m.83); Matan, Cucho (Gressel, m.85), Rossi (Molino, m.91).
Coach: Wilfried Nancy.
1. LAFC: Crepeau; Hollingshead, Murillo, Chiellini, Palacios (Palencia, d.87); Tillman (Bogusz, m.60), Sánchez (González, m.87), Acosta (Krastev, m.76); Olivera, Vela, Bouanga.
Coach: Steve Cherundolo.
Goals: 1-0, m.33: ‘Cucho’ Hernández, penalty. 2-0, m.37: Yeboah. 2-1, m.74: Bouanga.
Referee: Armando Villarreal. He cautioned Amundsen, Rossi and Morris at the Columbus Crew and Vela, Tillman, Sánchez and Palacios at LAFC.
Incidents: MLS Cup final played at Lower.com Field in Columbus (Ohio, USA) before 20,082 spectators.