On Monday night, the Columbus Crew hosts North American powerhouse Club América at Lower.com Field in the team’s final Leagues Cup group stage match.
Three Things To Know
1 – First things first: The winner of the match, via more goals or through a penalty shootout, will win Group Central 1. Columbus and América both beat St. Louis CITY SC, so each club will have at least one more Leagues Cup match. (St. Louis has been eliminated and won’t play again.) As a reminder, if the score is tied after 90 minutes, the penalty kick shootout will begin immediately after. Because the campaign continues for both clubs, how will they approach the match? Is there a chance a few extra strikers are stashed on the bench for a shootout? Will the match start on time? (OK, sorry if it’s too soon.)
2 – Let’s keep things as simple as possible. Monday night should be all about appreciating the moment. Both clubs have already advanced to the Leagues Cup Round of 32, so there’s no real pressure to get a result. Yes, a win would be nice, but this match is about seeding for the next round. Perhaps more importantly, arguably the most prolific soccer club in North America will play at Lower.com Field on Monday in a matchup between two historical powers. For the Crew, the team has two MLS Cup titles, three Supporters’ Shield wins, a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy and a Campeones Cup — at Lower.com Field in 2021. As for Club América:
- 13 Liga MX titles
- 6 Copa México trophies
- 6 Campeón de Campeones wins
- 7 Concacaf Champions Leagues championships
- 1 Concacaf Giants Cup (talk about a deep cut worth googling)
- 2 Copa Interamericana titles
In short, heavyweights clash in a competitive environment with a sold-out crowd. This should be awesome. Oh, and don’t forget Columbus has long been home to the U.S. Men’s National Team, and Mexico’s home is where América resides: Estadio Azteca.
4 – Las Águilas put four goals past St. Louis CITY SC on Thursday night, which included a goal from USMNT midfielder Alejandro Zendejas. This América squad has continued being a force in Mexican fútbol and shouldn’t be taken for granted because this isn’t an elimination match. The side just finished second in the Clausura (the Mexican spring league) and won last year’s Apetura (fall league). Anyone who follows Concacaf will recognize some notable El Tri veterans, like Jonathan dos Santos and Miguel Layún, but América’s roster is packed with quality, which will be on display Monday night.
When They Last Met
Similarly, to last Sunday with St. Louis, this is the first time the Crew has faced América in club history. This will be the third time in three years that the Black & Gold face a Liga MX side in Columbus. In 2021, C.F. Monterrey visited in the Concacaf Champions League. That September, the Crew beat Deportivo Cruz Azul to claim the Campeones Cup in the Ohio capital.
Match Overview
Who: Columbus Crew hosts Club América
When: Monday, July 31 at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Lower.com Field
Tickets: Resale Only!
How to Watch: MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app
How to Listen: 97.1 HD3/The Fan Stream, La Mega 103.1 FM
Current Standings: Columbus Crew – Second in Group C1; Club América – First in Group C1
Single-Match Tickets
Secure your seat to cheer on the reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field this season!
