Columbus Crew pushes through to the 2024 Leagues Cup final

With grit, sweat, and unrelenting power, the Crew bulldozed their way into the Leagues Cup final, leaving the Philadelphia Union in their wake on a decisive Wednesday night. In front of their roaring home crowd, Columbus secured a 3-1 victory, a performance that echoed their championship pedigree. Now, the stage is set for an epic showdown—a rematch of the MLS Cup final against LAFC, where everything is on the line once more.

Prior to the match, beloved Columbus head coach Wilfried Nancy expressed his wish to see Diego Rossi score a header—a dream that quickly became reality. Rossi nodded home a rebound to give the Crew the lead, fulfilling Nancy’s premonition. The Uruguayan has now scored SIX (!!!) goals in the tournament in just four matches, the joint most with Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga, despite Columbus earning a bye to the knockout stage.

The visitors clawed back into the game when a defensive lapse allowed the prolific Daniel Gazdag to pounce, sparking hope for the DOOP. But that hope was short-lived. On the stroke of halftime, Christian Ramirez delivered a sublime ball over the Philly defense, setting up Rossi for his second goal of the night. Cucho Hernández then landed the final blow in the second half, sealing the Black & Gold’s dominant victory as they cruised into another final.

Tournament No.2, Finalist No.2

This victory marks Columbus’ second tournament run of the year, following their impressive campaign in the Concacaf Champions Cup, in which they’ve officially clinched qualification for next year’s edition. Their run has been nothing short of remarkable, beating Tigres after going down in Mexico and overcoming them in a dramatic penalty shootout before doing the same against Monterrey.

The Crew had to dig deep, clawing back from 2-0 down against Inter Miami and edging out NYCFC in a thrilling penalty shootout. With their eyes now set on the Leagues Cup trophy, and inspired to redeem the previous final loss, the Black & Gold are proving that they can rise to the occasion when it matters most, solidifying their reputation as a force to be reckoned with on multiple fronts.

The other finalist

Standing between Columbus and the Leagues Cup trophy is a formidable opponent—LAFC. Since suffering a 5-1 loss to Columbus last month, LAFC has been unbeaten in open play, winning six matches and drawing twice, with one of those draws resulting in a penalty shootout loss to Vancouver in the group stage. In the knockout rounds, LAFC has been nothing short of dominant, outscoring their opponents 11-1, including victories over San Jose, Seattle, and most recently, a Colorado side that had knocked out Club América.

The attacking trio of former Crew Kei Kamara, Mateusz Bogusz, and Denis Bouanga has been electrifying, tearing through defenses with ease. Adding to their firepower, LAFC recently acquired European veteran Olivier Giroud, the French national team's all-time leading scorer, making them an even more dangerous threat as they head into the final.

LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo has been carefully preparing for this high-stakes final. While his go-to formation is typically a 4-3-3, Cherundolo experimented with a back three in Leagues Cup, and it worked like a treat, including the semifinal match against the Rapids—a system strikingly similar to the one Wilfried Nancy has implemented with the Crew. This tactical shift might just be a strategic move to mirror and counter Columbus' setup, suggesting that Cherundolo is leaving no stone unturned in his preparations for the final showdown.

With both teams showcasing impressive runs and formidable ideology, this Leagues Cup final promises to be a thrilling spectacle for fans and neutrals alike. For the fans who will be in the stands, let's make our voices heard and show unwavering support for the team. Let’s fill the stadium with our passion and energy once again. Go Crew!