Steven Cherundolo gets his next chance at the title. Los Angeles FC reached the final of the Leagues Cup with a 4-0 win – a reunion with Columbus Crew and a top goalscorer in top form.
A good eight months after the MLS final, Los Angeles FC and Columbus Crew will meet again for the title. In December 2023, Columbus – still with Julian Gressel in the ranks – dethroned the then defending MLS champions 2-1 to become champions. Now the two clubs face each other in the Leagues Cup final.
On Thursday night (CEST), LAFC easily won their semi-final against the Colorado Rapids 4-0, while the Crew prevailed 3-1 against Philadelphia Union with former Schalke and Würzburg player Kai Wagner and former St. Paulian Leon Flach.
Giroud just a wild card – Rossi turns up the heat again
LAFC, coached by Steven Cherundolo, set the course with a double strike shortly before the break (42nd/45th), with Polish goalscorer Mateusz Bogusz (13 goals in 24 MLS games this season) taking the lead. With attackers Kei Kamara and Denis Bouanga also scoring and veteran Hugo Lloris not allowing anything at the back, Cherundolo could easily afford to bring on celebrity newcomer Olivier Giroud at the break.
Columbus could once again rely on Diego Rossi. The 26-year-old Uruguayan scored his third brace in the last four games (12/43) – all in the knockout phase of the Leagues Cup – and underlined his top form. Hungary’s European Championship player Daniel Gazdag was able to equalize in the meantime (32′), but Cucho made everything clear shortly after the break (53′).
A lot at stake in the match for third place
The final of the competition, in which all first division teams from the USA and Mexico originally took part, will take place on Wednesday in Columbus – just like the MLS Cup final a year ago. Both teams have already secured their ticket for the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2025, the equivalent of the Champions League for clubs from North and Central America and the Caribbean. Another will be awarded on Sunday when Philadelphia and Colorado face each other in the match for third place.
