On Saturday, the Columbus Crew emerged victorious with a 2-1 win against the reigning champions, the LAFC, securing their third MLS Cup. This momentous triumph further showcased their illustrious accomplishments, following their previous victories over the New York Red Bulls in 2008 and the Seattle Sounders in 2020. As a result, they now stand as the team with the third-highest number of MLS championships, surpassed only by the LA Galaxy and D.C. United.
Cucho Hernandez and Yaw Yeboah each netted during the first half in the 33rd and 37th minutes, respectively, affording the Crew a prominent position. Despite Denis Bouanga's timely goal for LAFC in the 74th minute, the Crew maintained their advantage and triumphantly secured the MLS Cup.
The first-year coach, Wilfried Nancy, expressed his contentment with the triumph, stating that he was undoubtedly elated. He anticipated challenging moments in the latter portion of the match but was pleased that his team persevered and emerged victorious. Nancy also mentioned his satisfaction with the commendable performance displayed in the first half. According to him, what mattered most was authenticity, and he proudly acknowledged that his players embodied that quality.
Hernandez, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the match, provided the Columbus Crew with a 1-0 lead through a well-placed penalty kick into the bottom left corner, marking his fifth goal of the postseason. Notably, he has successfully converted all nine of the penalties he has taken in his professional career. Hernandez mentioned that he had taken seven or eight penalties this year and described this particular one as the most nerve-wracking, expressing his awareness that he couldn't afford to miss it.
Furthermore, Yeboah significantly increased the Crew's advantage as he skillfully positioned himself to receive the ball from Malte Amundsen on the left side. With great finesse, Yeboah maneuvered into the penalty area and successfully scored past Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.
The primary highlight of the match, as emphasized by LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo, was the first-half performance of his team. He expressed that they performed exceptionally well and flawlessly executed their strategy against LAFC. Cherundolo acknowledged that in order for opposing teams to secure victory against his team, they would need to create ample opportunities to compel LAFC into making errors. However, he also noted that he did not believe the Columbus Crew made the customary mistakes that his team often faces.
Once the score reached 2-1, LAFC assumed command of the game. Nevertheless, the crew exhibited unwavering determination. Assistant coach Mark Dos Santos expressed his sense of pride in the team's capacity to confront and accept adversity. As a coach, he highly values witnessing his team confront obstacles and navigate them in a manner that aligns with their unique approach.
The triumph held noteworthy importance for the captain of the crew, Darlington Nagbe, who was unable to participate in the 2020 final due to his contraction of COVID-19 merely two days prior to the match. Aidan Morris, a midfielder for the Crew, delineated Nagbe as the orchestrator of the team's rhythm, accentuating his poise and guidance and asserting that he fulfills a substantial role within the team.
It is important to note that before recruiting Nancy from CF Montreal, the crew experienced a failure to qualify for the playoffs in two consecutive seasons. The management team of the Crew comprises President and General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko, Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Jaime McMillan, and Assistant General Manager Corey Ray. Notably, all of these individuals previously held positions within Toronto FC.