The Columbus Crew are Leagues Cup champions! They were made to work hard for it but Columbus Crew got the job done and claimed their first piece of silverware of 2024, beating LAFC in the Leagues Cup final.
The Crew were on top for most of the first half and took the lead through Cucho Hernandez shortly before the break. The Columbus crowd was jubilant but they were silenced midway through the second half when Olivier Giroud levelled for LAFC, his first goal for the team.
The two sides went punch-for-punch as the clock ticked away but it was Columbus who found the knock-out blow, delivered by Cucho in second half stoppage time. The Colombian drifted inside from the left flank and curled in a cross that evaded everyone - including Hugo Lloris - and nestled in the LAFC net.
Just moments after completing his brace Cucho turned provider to lay on a third for Jacen Russell-Rose, wrapping up the 2024 Leagues Cup and underlining his reputation as one of the league's biggest talents.
How the Crew Won
Another trophy is on the line for Columbus on Sunday. While it’s not the same as lifting the Concacaf Champions Cup (at least in my opinion) it’s still a continental trophy and one that will have a lot of benefits added in addition to winning on its own. The Crew are the favorites but will have their work cut out for them against a dangerous and talented LAFC team. There are three things the Crew must excel at in order to win.
LAFC at a Glance
LAFC has reached the Leagues Cup 2024 Final where it will play the Columbus Crew on Sunday, Aug. 25. Kickoff for the championship match from Lower.com Field is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. PT. Fans can watch on Apple TV – MLS Season Pass and Univision. Radio coverage is available on the ESPN LA App, 710 AM ESPN, and KFWB 980 AM La Mera Mera.
LAFC Player Status Report
Here is the Kaiser Permanente Player Status Report for LAFC’s upcoming match:
QUESTIONABLE:
None
OUT:
Lorenzo Dellavalle - Knee
SUSPENDED:
None
INTERNATIONAL DUTY:
None
How LAFC Play
Steve Cherundolo is in his third year at the helm in Hollywood and has played a big part in the club’s continued success. Cherundolo has led LAFC’s revolution in tactical style from a ball-dominant one to a more transition-dominant one. Cherundolo has led LAFC to back-to-back MLS Cup appearances and has them in yet another final here in Leagues Cup. Most interestingly of all, Cherundolo has switched from using a 4-3-3 formation to a 3-4-3 similar to the Crew. This hasn’t necessarily changed their tactical style but has impacted the way they go about their business and how they set up their best players for success.
Since I expect the Crew to be the dominant team in possession, I’ll spend a lot of time talking about LAFC’s tendencies out of possession.
Whenever possible, LAFC looks to apply pressure high up the field to create turnovers and keep their opponents from being comfortable on the ball. We have seen this strategy wreak havoc on the Black & Gold at times this campaign. When LAFC can do this effectively, it often leads to high percentage chances for their attackers against disorganized opponents. Once this pressure is beaten, LAFC looks to recover with numbers behind the ball and have recently drifted into a 4-5-1 shape with their wingers dropping deeper to defend in wide areas. The wingers will look to shepherd the ball inside so their attacking midfielders can pounce on errant passes and miscues from their opponents.
When this happens, LAFC’s attack springs to life with attackers flooding forward in an attempt to catch opponents out of possession. Most importantly, LAFC’s switch to a back five will allow for their center backs to step into the midfield to defend Crew attackers. This freedom to step into the midfield isn’t always available when defending in a back four. This style has also consistently been the hardest for the Crew to beat this year as it creates a lot of 1v1 matchups in possession.
When LAFC have sustained possession, they typically operate in sort of a 3-4- formation with their front three moving quite a bit. Their three center backs will stay pretty deep and central to help circulate the ball. Their central midfielders and wingbacks will stay connected to the back three as well to help keep possession. This shape and deep possession is intended to draw their opponents out of their defensive shape and then play a direct ball for Bouanga and company to run onto. This works well as they have plenty of players capable of both handling the ball in possession and springing long balls to attack.
Player to Watch: Denis Bouanga
Bouanga is unquestionably the man to watch on this LAFC side. The 29-year-old Gabon international has exploded since joining LAFC in the summer of 2022. Bouanga has scored 63 goals and added 25 assists in 91 matches for LAFC. Bouanga arrived after an extensive career in France’s first and second divisions, which no doubt gave him the experience necessary to excel in MLS. Bouanga is a demon in attacking transition, with enough speed and 1v1 ability to torment even the best 1v1 defenders. Bouanga is also an excellent finisher who is capable of finishing in a variety of ways. He is also deceptively tough to track with his movement in the box. Bouanga is the main threat for LAFC and will be again on Sunday. The Crew will need to do a good job of defending him in and out of transition to add another trophy to the trophy case.
The Moment Columbus Crew Clinched Leagues Cup Title
They've seen plenty of success at Lower.com Field in the past 18 months, but there's not been much to rival the scenes as Jacen Russell-Rowe slotted home Columbus' third goal this evening.
A fitting ending to a thrilling game, with the Leagues Cup trophy lifted by the best team on the night. The Crew supporters will be celebrating late into the night!
