By COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus Crew secured its first Leagues Cup title with a dramatic 3-1 victory over Los Angeles FC on Sunday at Lower.com Field, powered by a stellar performance from Cucho Hernández.
Hernández, who earned the Leagues Cup Best Player award, scored two goals and provided an assist, cementing the Crew’s second major trophy in the past year following their MLS Cup triumph.
The Colombian forward broke the deadlock in the 45th minute, heading in a short cross from Mohamed Farsi at the edge of the goal area. Hernández continued to threaten in the second half, narrowly missing another header from a Diego Rossi free kick in the 52nd minute.
LAFC’s marquee signing, Olivier Giroud, equalized in the 57th minute, connecting with a Mateusz Bogusz corner kick to score his first goal for the California club.
As the match seemed destined for penalties, mirroring last year’s final, Hernández struck the decisive blow two minutes into stoppage time. He then orchestrated a counterattack moments later, setting up Jacen Russell-Rowe for the Crew’s third goal, sending the home crowd into raptures.
The match saw several close calls for both sides. LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris denied Christian Ramírez from close range in the 71st minute, while Columbus keeper Nicholas Hagen thwarted Denis Bouanga’s attempt in the 81st minute.
Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy praised his team’s resilience: “This victory is a testament to our players’ determination. Cucho was exceptional, but it was a complete team effort that got us this trophy.”
LAFC manager Steve Cherundolo acknowledged the challenge posed by Columbus: “We faced a strong opponent today. Despite Olivier’s [Giroud] goal, Columbus outplayed us in crucial moments.”
The victory marks a significant milestone for Columbus Crew, adding the Leagues Cup to their trophy cabinet and reinforcing their status as one of MLS’s top teams.
The Leagues Cup, in its second year, has quickly become a prestigious competition in North American soccer, attracting top talent like Giroud to MLS teams and providing a platform for emerging stars like Hernández.
As confetti rained down on the jubilant Columbus players, captain Darlington Nagbe lifted the trophy, marking a historic moment for the club and its supporters in the Nordecke section.
This triumph sets the stage for an exciting conclusion to the MLS season, with both Columbus Crew and LAFC looking to carry their form into the final stretch of league play.
