Leagues Cup Bracket 2024: Columbus Crew Beat LAFC to Win Final in MLS Cup Rematch
Aug 26, 2024
COLUMBUS, OHIO - AUGUST 25: Cucho Hernandez #9 of the Columbus Crew controls the ball during the first half of Leagues Cup 2024 Final against the Los Angeles FC at Lower.com Field on August 25, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
The Columbus Crew own Los Angeles FC when trophies are on the line.
Columbus defeated LAFC 3-1 in the final of the 2024 Leagues Cup on Sunday at Lower.com Field, repeating its victory over the same foe from December's MLS Cup championship game. The game was in doubt until stoppage time, which is when Crew star Cucho Hernández shifted into takeover mode.
He scored the go-ahead goal from outside the box in the 92nd minute and then assisted on Jacen Russell-Rowe's goal in the 94th minute to remove any doubt. It was also Hernández who started the scoring in the first half for the victors.
CUCHO IN THE 92ND MINUTE OF THE LEAGUES CUP FINAL 😱
It was more of the same for Columbus against LAFC, as it also handled the Western Conference team with ease in a 5-1 victory in a regular-season matchup in July. Not even the addition of Olivier Giroud, who scored LAFC's only goal, could change the outcome when these two teams face each other.
That these clubs are so familiar with each other was only fitting given their paths through the Leagues Cup bracket, which can be found at the tournament's official website. While the Leagues Cup features MLS teams and Liga MX teams, neither Los Angeles nor Columbus faced a team from Mexico in the knockout rounds.
LAFC defeated familiar foes in Austin, San Jose, Seattle and Colorado, while the Crew went through Sporting Kansas City, Inter Miami, New York City FC and Philadelphia.
It set the stage for Sunday's showdown, and Columbus turned heads before kickoff when head coach Wilfried Nancy decided to start goaltender Nicholas Hagen instead of his typical choice, Patrick Schulte.
Hugo Lloris was Hagen's counterpart for the visitors, and it was the veteran who allowed the first goal when Mohamed Farsi deftly navigated through the LAFC defense and flicked a cross in for Hernández. The Crew star buried the opportunity with a header right before halftime and put the Western Conference team in comeback mode.
LAFC wasn't in comeback mode for long in the second half, though, as Giroud redirected a corner kick to score his first goal for his new club. The momentum had swung even before the equalizer, as Mateusz Bogusz appeared to tie the game but was ruled offside.
The visitors kept that momentum throughout most of the second half in part because Lloris sent away a wide-open opportunity for Christian Ramírez right in front of the net.
But Hernández—who also set up that look for Ramírez—was inevitable and clinched his side another trophy.
Erik Hurtado Traded From CF Montreal to Crew After Refusing to Get COVID-19 Vaccine
Jul 8, 2021
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - MAY 12: Defender and Forward Erik Hurtado (11) of CF Montreal go after the ball during the Inter Miami CF match against CF Montreal on May 12, 2021 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, FL. (Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CF Montreal forward Erik Hurtado was traded to the Columbus Crew for $200,000 in general allocation money on Thursday after he chose not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The 30-year-old from Virginia signed a one-year deal with Montreal last February that included a second-year option. He now heads to his fourth MLS club after previous stints with Sporting Kansas City and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
“There was some interest in Erik during the past few weeks and we listened to the offers, even though we were satisfied with Erik’s work. Because he’s not vaccinated against Covid-19, his situation was problematic and we started considering a trade when we got the confirmation that the team could return to Montreal. Before proceeding, Erik also confirmed that he was not comfortable taking the vaccine, so we concluded this deal, which we felt was very satisfactory. We would like to thank Erik for his professionalism and wish him good luck in his career.”
In seven games for Montreal, the forward started twice and recorded one assist.
Lucas Zelarayan, Crew Beat Sounders 3-0 to Win 2020 MLS Cup Final
Dec 12, 2020
Columbus Crew players celebrate a goal against the Seattle Sounders during the first half of the MLS Championship soccer match Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Lucas Zelarayan scored two goals and assisted on another as Columbus Crew SC defeated Seattle Sounders FC 3-0 in the 2020 MLS Cup on Saturday at Mapfre Stadium.
Zelarayan's 25th-minute goal gave the home side a 1-0 advantage, and he assisted on Derrick Etienne's effort six minutes later. He added an 82nd-minute tally to cap the 3-0 victory.
The 28-year-old Argentinian midfielder fired Harrison Afful's cross past Seattle goalie Stefan Frei and into the back of the net for the first goal:
Columbus entered halftime with a 8-2 shot advantage (3-0 shots on goal) despite Seattle holding possession for 65 percent of the first half. They couldn't have played much better, and ESPN's Taylor Twellman gave a shoutout:
Seattle ramped up the pressure in the second half, outshooting Columbus 11-7 and putting a pair of shots on goal. However, Sounders FC couldn't find the back of the net, and Zelarayan earned the brace off a laser into the upper-left hand corner of the net:
The win marks Columbus' second-ever MLS Cup victory and a particularly sweet one for their fans, who fought to keep the team from moving to Austin, Texas, as former Sports Illustrated journalist Grant Wahl noted:
3 years later, after Columbus fans saved their team, the Crew wins MLS Cup XXV in front of the people who fought so hard to keep them in Ohio. ⭐️⭐️ https://t.co/a1pxWknAdVpic.twitter.com/3xWlc9pjl7
Columbus Crew SC's first MLS Cup occurred in 2008 after defeating the New York Red Bulls.
Seattle's season ended in disappointment, but the Sounders still has four MLS Cup appearances in five years, including two wins.
They'll also always have their epic Western Conference Final comeback when they overcame a 2-0 deficit in the 75th minute to defeat Minnesota United FC 3-2.
MLS Announces Columbus Crew SC to Be Owned, Operated by Haslam, Edwards Families
Dec 28, 2018
Columbus Crew SC midfielder Artur (8), Milton Valenzuela (19) and forward Federico Higuain (10) celebrate after penalty kicks in an MLS playoff soccer match against the D.C. United, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, in Washington. The Crew SC won 2-2 (3-2) in penalty kicks. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
An agreement has been reached with the Haslam and Edwards families for the takeover of MLS franchise Columbus Crew, the league announced on Friday.
Per the MLS' official website the operating rights will be transferred to the new owners in January.
Precourt Sports Ventures had owned the Crew's operating rights since 2013, but according to the report, they had been locked in a lawsuit with the City of Columbus and the state of Ohio. That suit has now been dismissed, with the future of football in Columbus assured.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 23: Midfielder Wil Trapp #6 of Columbus Crew and midfielder Benny Feilhaber #33 of the LAFC take a fall in the Los Angeles FC MLS game at Banc of California Stadium on June 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant
MLS Commissioner Don Garber welcomed the Haslam and Edwards families:
"After several months of discussions, we are extremely pleased to have reached an agreement in principle with the Haslam and Edwards families for them to assume an ownership position in Major League Soccer and operate Columbus Crew SC starting in January, 2019.
"While we work to finalize the deal promptly, we want to state publicly the tremendous collaboration and community support for Crew SC, which has set the stage for a powerful plan that includes a world-class soccer stadium – a critical step that will help ensure the club’s success on and off the field."
The Haslam family already own an established Ohio-based sports franchise, the NFL's Cleveland Browns, and the Edwards family is based in Columbus.
With their strong ties to the local community, the Crew's future is all but assured. As explained bySports Illustrated'sGrant Wahl, the team was previously in danger of being moved to Austin, leading to the lawsuit against MLS and Precourt.
Per MLS' report, state and city officials have approved a public-private partnership for a new stadium.
The new owners' next task will be the search for a head coach following the departure of longtime boss Gregg Berhalter. The 45-year-old was announced as the new U.S. men's national team coach earlier this month.
Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam Negotiating to Buy MLS' Columbus Crew
Oct 12, 2018
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 08: Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is seen before the game against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is part of a group attempting to buy MLS club Columbus Crew SC, ESPN.com's Jeff Carlisle reported Friday.
According to Carlisle, Haslam is partnering with Columbus-based businessman Pete Edwards to purchase the franchise from Anthony Precourt.
Sports Illustrated'sGrant Wahlfirst reported in October 2017 that Precourt planned to move the Crew to Austin, Texas, if the city of Columbus was unable to come to an agreement on a new downtown stadium for the franchise.
In March, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and the city of Columbus filed a lawsuitagainst Precourt Sports Ventures, alleging it was in violation of a law instituted after Art Modell moved the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore, Maryland.
Under the law, a team must "either receive permission or else give six months’ notice and offer locals an opportunity to purchase the team before moving" if it receives public money to operate, per the Columbus Dispatch'sAndrew Erickson.
With the litigation ongoing, Precourt shared in August the proposed branding and stadium plans for an Austin MLS franchise.
Anthony Precourt unveiled what MLS in Austin would look like should the relocation of the Columbus Crew come to fruition. Take a look at Austin FC https://t.co/DVSoVgsGZvpic.twitter.com/5RQbjZLkjP
That same month, the city of Austinvoted in favorof negotiating the details toward a new stadium on city-owned land.
Carlisle noted the deal for Haslam and Edwards to buy the Crew has yet to be finalized. However, the group would plan to keep the Crew structure in place in Columbus, with Precourt receiving the rights to an expansion franchise in Austin.
Ohio Attorney General Files Lawsuit to Keep Columbus Crew from Moving to Austin
Mar 5, 2018
COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 14: Goalkeeper Steve Clark #1 of the Columbus Crew SC makes a save on a shot from Toronto FC in the second half on March 14, 2015 at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Crew SC defeated Toronto FC 2-0. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is doing what he can to keep the Columbus Crew in Columbus, Ohio.
On Monday, he tweeted that his office and the city of Columbus filed a lawsuit against Precourt Sports Ventures—Anthony Precourt is the Crew owner—in an effort to stop the team from leaving for Austin, Texas:
#BREAKING: My office, and the city of Columbus, has filed a lawsuit against Precourt Sports Ventures, the operator/investor of @ColumbusCrewSC, & @MLS, to protect taxpayer interests & ensure they follow the law if they seek to move the team to TX. #CrewSChttps://t.co/01Mo8QRYGv
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) March 5, 2018
Marty Schladen and Randy Ludlow of the Columbus Dispatch reported on the story, noting Precourt has publicly said he wants to move the team to Austin.
"The lawsuit filed Monday in the Franklin County Common Pleas Court seeks to invoke a 1996 law enacted after Art Modell moved the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore, where the team was renamed the Ravens," Schladen and Ludlow explained. "The law says that no professional team that gets public assistance or uses public facilities can leave town without giving six months notice and giving locals an opportunity to buy the team."
TheColumbus Dispatchstory noted State Representative Mike Duffey urged DeWine to file the lawsuit, saying the Crew's stadium—Mapfre Stadium—sits on tax-exempt land and benefits from the $5 million for parking upgrades the state provided in 2009.
Precourt has also been met with opposition outside of members of the Ohio government.
According to Schladen and Ludlow, there was opposition in Austin regarding a plan to build a stadium on lakefront parkland, and the city's parks and recreation board then passed a resolution in an effort to remove a second city park from consideration.
There has also been a groundswell of support for keeping the Crew in Columbus among soccer fans since Precourt revealed his intentions, with the hashtag #SaveTheCrew sweeping social media and making appearances on posters at games.
NBC 4in Columbus cited leaders of the "Save the Crew" movement who said more than 200 business allies have joined the cause.
Columbus, one of the MLS' 10 original teams, reached the Eastern Conference Finals of the MLS last year, only to lose to Toronto FC with a spot in the MLS Cup on the line.
Columbus Crew Unveil Eye-Catching New Kit, Fans on Twitter Aren't Impressed
Feb 10, 2016
Columbus Crew became the latest side to unveil a new kit on Thursday ahead of the start of the Major League Soccer season in March.
Battle-Tested Columbus Downs Red Bulls to Advance to MLS Cup
Nov 30, 2015
Columbus Crew players celebrate with the MLS soccer Eastern Conference championship cup after the second leg of the series against the New York Red Bulls, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015, in Harrison, N.J. The Red Bulls won 1-0, but the Crew advance to the MLS Cup with a 2-1 aggregate score. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
HARRISON, N.J. — There is no doubt the Columbus Crew will enjoy their Eastern Conference championship over the next 24 hours, but as manager Gregg Berhalter admitted after Sunday's game, there's still one key match ahead in the club's future.
“I want the guys to enjoy it, but we have bigger fish to fry," Berhalter said in his post-match press conference following the 1-0 loss at the New York Red Bulls that completed a 2-1 aggregate victory in the semifinals. "I wanted them to enjoy it on the podium. I wanted them to enjoy the trophy, but I told them they’re going to be remembered for the trophy they win next week. Not the one they win this week."
Berhalter is 100 percent right. No one will remember who wins the conference championships years from now, but everyone will recall who hoisted the MLS Cup to conclude the 2015 season.
Columbus earned its spot in next Sunday's final over the Red Bulls, who won the Supporters' Shield for the league's best regular-season record.
HARRISON, NJ - NOVEMBER 29: Members of the Columbus Crew celebrate their Eastern Conference win over the New York Red Bulls after their match at Red Bull Arena on November 29, 2015 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
A victory over two legs and a home match to close out the postseason looked all but locked up for the Crew as second-half stoppage time approached, but one hiccup led to the most dramatic, and final, three minutes of the match. Two minutes after Anatole Abang scored the lone goal of the contest, Bradley Wright-Phillips' shot hit off the bottom-right part of the post before Kei Kamara cleared it off the line.
Nov 29, 2015; Harrison, NJ, USA; Columbus Crew defender Michael Parkhurst (4) falls back in the net as the New York Red Bulls rush to get the ball back in play after a goal by forward Anatole Abang (9) in the closing minutes of the second half of leg two
“I thought it was going wide of the post," center back Michael Parkhurst said. "When I looked at it, I thought it was going wide and then when it hit the post I was like, 'Holy smokes.' We didn’t make it easy on ourselves. We’re happy to advance."
Easy is the last word that would describe the Crew's path to the MLS Cup. In the playoffs, Columbus fought past an on-fire Montreal Impact side led by Didier Drogba before downing the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
The tone for the club's deep run into the postseason was set late in the regular season during a stretch of challenging games to close out the 34-game slate. Columbus earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference by shutting out Toronto FC and D.C. United in successive matches. The latter victory saw the Crew flex their offensive muscle in a 5-0 home triumph.
“We feel like we’re battle-tested, that’s for sure," Parkhurst said. "Even the way we finished the regular season, we had a lot of big games against playoff teams and it wasn’t easy. We had to fight hard to get to second place, and now looking back it’s important that we did because we get to host the cup."
Nov 29, 2015; Harrison, NJ, USA; Columbus Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark (1) points during the second half of leg two of the Eastern Conference championship at Red Bull Arena. The Crew defeated the Red Bulls 2-1, aggregate to win the Eastern Conference Champ
The main tactical adjustment by the Crew that helped them get past the Red Bulls over two legs was to negate the pressure of manager Jesse Marsch's side.
"It wasn’t a typical performance by us, but we identified their strengths and we wanted to turn that against them," Berhalter said. "You gotta give the Red Bulls a lot of credit. They had a fantastic season and the way they play, it works perfectly. They create chances off their pressure and we wanted to eliminate that, and I think we did a good job."
Columbus kept Red Bulls leading scorer Wright-Phillips away from goal for most of the 180 minutes, and the full-back pairing of Waylon Francis and Harrison Afful marked Lloyd Sam and Mike Grella straight out of the series.
HARRISON, NJ - NOVEMBER 29: Mike Grella #13 of New York Red Bulls drives by Harrison Afful #25 of Columbus Crew during their match at Red Bull Arena on November 29, 2015 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
“Harrison and Waylon did a good job. They were big in this series," Berhalter said. "Our full-backs are very important in our system and integral in our attack and our defensive structure. I’m happy for their performance."
As for the center backs, Parkhurst, who partnered Tyson Wahl in the first leg and Gaston Sauro in the second, identified one key strength in the game of Wright-Phillips that was eliminated from the outset of the series.
“We didn’t let him in behind too often," Parkhurst said. "He makes really good moves in behind off the back shoulders of defenders. We were aware of those and we limited his chances of getting in behind us. We identified that as a big strength of his, and for the most part, I think we did a really good job of that."
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 22: Bradley Wright-Phillips attempts to kick the ball past Tyson Wahl #2 of the Columbus Crew SC on November 22, 2015 at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus defeated New York 2-0. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
After the final whistle blew on the second leg, the Crew began to shift their focus toward the MLS Cup against the Portland Timbers. Hosting the final game of the season is very important to everyone in the Crew organization.
"What I’m most proud of is we get to bring the MLS Cup final to the city of Columbus," Berhalter said. "The fans have been behind us all year. You see the excitement that was building for these playoff matches and now to be able to play the final in Columbus is special."
In the one match between the two sides this year, Portland defeated Columbus 2-1 at Mapfre Stadium behind a brace from Fanendo Adi.
"They’re the best team in the league away from home," Berhalter said. "They’ve been good, and it’s going to be a difficult game."
Whether or not the Crew come out on top next weekend remains to be seen, but over the last two months, they established themselves as the best representative of the Eastern Conference to challenge for the league's biggest trophy.
Joe Tansey covers MLS for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @JTansey90.
Columbus Sets Tone in MLS Eastern Conference Championship with Strong Showing
Nov 22, 2015
Columbus Crew Justin Meram, left, celebrates with Kei Kamara after Meram scored a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the New York Red Bulls, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, in Harrison, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
The start was ideal. The performance that followed was fantastic. And the 2-0 result after 90 minutes was a perfect start to the Eastern Conference Championship for the Columbus Crew.
Thanks to their stellar all-around showing in front of the home fans at Mapfre Stadium, the Crew left the Eastern Conference Championship first leg with a two-goal advantage over the New York Red Bulls heading into next Sunday's second leg at Red Bull Arena.
Columbus shocked the Supporters' Shield winners with a goal nine seconds into the match. Off the opening kickoff, a long ball was played onto the head of Kei Kamara, who headed the ball down to Ethan Finlay. Finlay dished an assist over to Justin Meram and the Iraq international finished off the fastest goal in MLS postseason history.
Meram's early tally mesmerized everyone, as no one expected the reliable Red Bulls back line to break down on the first attack of the match. From that point on, the tone of the match was set. Columbus threatened on countless occasions before Kamara's 85th-minute goal handed Columbus a critical two-goal advantage.
Not only did the Columbus attack thrive throughout the majority of the match, its defense also shut down the Red Bulls wingers and took Bradley Wright-Phillips out of the game. Wright-Phillips' contribution was limited to two off-target shots in the defeat that saw Lloyd Sam and Mike Grella rarely make an impact from the flanks.
The Crew's thorough defensive showing came without the suspended Gaston Sauro, who was a rock next to Michael Parkhurst for the second half of the season. Parkhurst and Tyson Wahl showed few deficiencies at center back, while Waylon Francis and Harrison Afful kept the ball out of the dangerous areas on the wings.
The standout showing from the Columbus back four produced the first clean sheet against the Red Bulls since May 24, and it handed the Crew their first shutout of the postseason.
Red Bulls haven't been shut out since May 24 vs. the Union. #CLBvNY
Columbus was also able to find vulnerabilities in the Red Bulls midfield, which has earned plenty of praise for its pressing demeanor for most of 2015. Dax McCarty and Sacha Kljestan looked mortal at best, and although Felipe produced a decent 90 minutes, he still looked a little disjointed without McCarty and Kljestan firing on all cylinders.
In the final third, the quartet of Columbus attackers in the starting lineup found plenty of space by breaking down the usually organized Red Bulls back line. Although the Crew did not capitalize on a few key opportunities, they were able to leave an imprint in the minds of the Red Bulls defenders that there are plenty of holes waiting to be exploited.
Luckily for the Crew, they did not waste all of their chances, and Kamara finished off a critical second goal with five minutes left in the match. Substitute Cedrick Mabwati made the Red Bulls defense look like traffic cones before his shot was saved by Luis Robles. But Robles' save deflected behind him, and Kamara was left unmarked to tap in the goal.
Nov 22, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew forward Kei Kamara (23) reacts to scoring a goal against the New York Red Bulls in the second half of leg one of the Eastern Conference championship at Mapfre Stadium. The Crew won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Aaro
Now the task ahead for the Crew is to replicate the first-leg performance in a week's time at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls will certainly make adjustments to their tactics, and the home crowd will provide them another advantage.
One thing the Crew must improve on is their finishing. Despite putting two shots into the back of the net, Columbus missed a few chances to extend their lead further in the first leg.
Meram's curling effort in the 43rd minute was batted away by Robles, and Afful's shot in the 49th minute from open space flew off to the left of the goal. On the road, the Crew might not receive as many scoring chances, which means they can't afford to waste any opportunities.
Columbus also needs more production in the air out of Kamara, who didn't involve himself in many aerial battles with the Red Bulls center backs outside of his header to Finlay to set up the first goal.
Kamara failed to get either of the Red Bulls center backs suspended with a yellow card due to his lack of aggressiveness in the air for 90 minutes. That means Matt Miazga and Ronald Zubar will get another chance to mold their partnership to perfection and shut down Kamara in the second leg.
Federico Higuain was also a little too selfish for Columbus' liking in attack on a few moves forward. Had the Argentine playmaker dished the ball out to the wings quicker, the Crew may have found more space. But despite the little flaws in their game, the Crew still left the first leg with a victory and a clean sheet.
The Crew played the first leg to near perfection, but in order to advance to MLS Cup on Dec. 6, they must fix the little mistakes and find a way to keep the Red Bulls quiet for another 90 minutes.
Joe Tansey covers MLS for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @JTansey90.
