Leagues Cup Bracket 2024: Columbus Crew Beat LAFC to Win Final in MLS Cup Rematch
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVAugust 26, 2024
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 HernĂĄndez 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 HernĂĄndez who started the scoring in the first half for the victors.
B/R Football @brfootballCUCHO IN THE 92ND MINUTE OF THE LEAGUES CUP FINAL đ±
(via @MLS) pic.twitter.com/f4j8W5jP1n
The Crew @ColumbusCrewPUT IT IN THE TROPHY CABINET đ pic.twitter.com/dEhZ1hJCme
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.
Leagues Cup @LeaguesCup1. @ColumbusCrew đ„
2. @LAFC đ„
3. @ColoradoRapids đ„
cc: @TheChampions pic.twitter.com/4GAhRu7gkW
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 HernĂĄndez. The Crew star buried the opportunity with a header right before halftime and put the Western Conference team in comeback mode.
B/R Football @brfootballCucho đ°đđ§đđđ it đ€
(via @MLS) pic.twitter.com/1uw8UQiYoz
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.
B/R Football @brfootballOlivier Giroud scores his first LAFC goal.
And what a time to do it đ€
(via @MLS)pic.twitter.com/5IiIEyx1KK
The visitors kept that momentum throughout most of the second half in part because Lloris sent away a wide-open opportunity for Christian RamĂrez right in front of the net.
But HernĂĄndezâwho also set up that look for RamĂrezâwas inevitable and clinched his side another trophy.
