In the MLS Cup final on Saturday, the Columbus Crew defeated Los Angeles FC 2-1 to win their third Major League Soccer championship. Yaw Yeboah’s goal and Cucho Hernandez’s penalty gave the Crew a 2-0 lead at the half, but Denis Bouanga’s goal in the 74th minute gave LAFC a comeback.
The previous year’s champions were soundly defeated in what may have been the last match before former Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini retired and perhaps the last game for LAFC star Carlos Vela.
Long periods of the game were dominated by Columbus, under the direction of little-known Frenchman Wilfried Nancy, while Steve Cherundolo’s LAFC could not mount their signature counterattacks.
Nancy felt his club had gotten better all season long. Nancy earned his first major championship as a coach in his debut season with Columbus.
Both personally and as players, they have significantly developed. “Guys, impossible is an opinion,” I told them when we first started; have fun, and we’ll get better. And that’s precisely what took place. This is absurd,” he exclaimed.
“We made our moves. I’m thrilled.
Nancy also achieved a first for Black coaches by winning the Major League Soccer championship.
With veteran midfielder Darlington Nagbe, who has now won the title with three separate clubs, as a calming force, Columbus soon settled into their possession game after a wild start in front of a boisterous, 20,802 entire home crowd.
The first serious chance came from French defender Steven Moreira in the sixteenth minute, but his poor header from a good position in the box went wide.
Hernandez, a free-flowing Colombian striker for the Crew, reminded everyone of his goal threat with a 20-yard attempt that went wide of the post.
Diego Rossi, an offensive midfielder from Uruguay, started to get behind Hernandez and have increasing influence. In the 27th minute, he nearly scored with a shot that went into the side netting.
Lucky strike
The Los Angeles defence was under increasing pressure, but the Crew only managed to break through thanks to a lucky penalty call.
After Yeboah crossed from the left, Rossi flicked the ball into the air, striking Diego Palacios in the shoulder before striking him in the arm.
In the 33rd minute, Hernandez scored the game’s first goal when referee Armando Villarreal pointed to the penalty spot without thinking twice.
With a goal of flawless simplicity, the Crew increased their lead in just four minutes.
The Danish defender, Malte Amundsen, split the defence with a precise pass to Yeboah, who raced past Ryan Hollingshead’s back and poked the ball home with the outside of his left foot.
The Crew supporters were jubilant, having been in the stadium for over two hours before kickoff. On the other hand, LAFC appeared stunned, having done little to set up the league’s leading scorer, Bouanga.
On the brink of halftime, however, Crew defender Rudy Camacho nearly turned a low cross from Cristian Olivera into his own goal, providing hope for the continuously singing black-clad visiting Los Angeles supporters.
After the interval, Columbus maintained their lead thanks to the explosive Yeboah, who ducked under two defenders and swerved into the area before chipping over Los Angeles goalie Max Crepeau, causing Palacios to miss the mark.
As the last 20 minutes wore on, there were indications that Columbus was growing weary and making mistakes more frequently while LAFC pressed forward with greater vigour.
Bouanga surged by the defence with a quick burst of speed, but his low pass across the goal’s face was missed.
Shortly after, the French-born Gabon international restored his team’s lead in the match, scoring with his right foot after Patrick Schulte parried a drive from within the area. Bouanga responded quickly, burying the loose ball.
However, the Crew did not back down and responded well, with replacement Christian Ramirez storming into the area and Rossi scuffing a chance to make it 3-1.
After winning two titles in 2008 and 2020, the Crew held strong in seven minutes of extra time to light up the Ohio crowd’s celebrations of a third championship.
Columbus, according to Chiellini, deserved to win.
“We should feel proud of the amazing adventure that we took. Naturally, I’m disappointed with the game; overall, I don’t think they’re any better, but tonight they were much better,” he remarked.