Anyone up for an MLS Cup rematch with a trophy on the line?
The Columbus Crew advanced to the Leagues Cup Final after beating the Philadelphia Union, 3-1, on Wednesday night at Lower.com Field. The Crew will host LAFC in the Leagues Cup Final on Sunday at 7:15 p.m.
By beating the Union, the Black & Gold are playing a third championship match within the last nine months.
“We are proud of that,” head coach Wilfried Nancy said of another trip to a final. “This is something that we try to put when I took the team – to have a vision but also to think big and to achieve small things to write a legacy. …The small steps that we've been putting all the time and we are still doing it, this is why I think that we for the moment are a winning team.
“This is not about the results. Winning team, for me, this is about the mentality that we have. Hopefully, it’s going to keep going, but I'm really proud of what we are doing here.”
The Crew started the match on the front foot and never relinquished, as reigning league champions now sit on the cusp of a first Leagues Cup title.
Columbus took an early lead in the 12th minute when the Diego Rossi-Cucho Hernández connection opened the scoring through an unexpected sequence.
Cucho tried his luck from long range and unleashed a dipping, low-post shot that sent Philadelphia goalkeeper Andre Blake sprawling to make the save. He did, initially, but Rossi was there for the rebound – a flying header at the feet of The Nordecke.
The visitors equalized 20 minutes later via Dániel Gazdag, but Rossi scored his second in the 43rd minute when he first-timed a lovely Christian Ramirez scoop over the Union backline. Rossi initially controlled the ball on the left touchline, then dribbled in on goal before finding Ramirez for the give-and-go.
With the brace, Rossi now has six goals in three Leagues Cup matches, giving in the joint-lead in the Golden Boot race.
“Diego is a good example of a work ethic,” Nancy said. “In my job, there are many, many things that I try to control, but I cannot control everything. For me, Diego is an example of the day-to-day work, the humility to do the job and the humility to do the dirty job, and also, he’s coachable. …What I like about him, he's able to do many things. I challenged him with the head, and he scored. Now, I'm going to challenge him with something else. He’s a really good example in terms of work ethic and of a leadership, a quiet leadership. This is also something that I like with Diego.”
Cucho gave Columbus its third in the 53rd minute when the Colombian scored his second in the competition. Steven Moreira whipped in a right-footed cross, which Cucho headed toward goal. Blake made the initial save, but the forward followed the rebound and doubled the Black & Gold lead.
The goal was Cucho’s 50th for the Club across all competitions since he joined in the summer of 2022.
“I'm so happy to get this. I think it has been good times here. I think the first 50, I want to score 100 but yes, that's my mentality,” Cucho said. “Of course, I enjoyed every game. 50 now is, I think is a lot, it's a lot of goals, but this is thanks to my teammates and to the coach, to the people, without them, I cannot get anything. So, I'm so happy for that. I am available to score and to assist to my teammates.”
Wednesday’s semifinal victory also clinched the Crew a spot in 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup – and a chance to make another cup run to the final. But that’s looking too far ahead. There’s unfinished business in the present.
“Happy for the boys because they did a good game against a team that is always difficult to play against,” Nancy said. “Again, they showed also a lot of resiliency because they came back from a mistake that we made. Like I told them, they don't take this final for granted. They know what it means for the work and the work ethic that they do every day. Now, freshness and be ready for the final.”
