We all know the narratives coming into this one. The two best teams in the MLS over the last couple of years are once again meeting with silverware on the line. LAFC hit the road and travel to Ohio, to take on the Columbus Crew in the Leagues Cup Final. The home side are set to take part in their third final match in just nine months, while LAFC look to finish the job after coming up short in all their final appearances last season. One of those finals, the MLS Cup loss to this Columbus Crew side. All to play for as the budding rivalry takes center stage.
Big game, big player.
Olivier Giroud makes his first start in Black & Gold.#LAFC | #LeaguesCup2024 pic.twitter.com/7BM9ZLirPB
— LAFC (@LAFC) August 25, 2024
The first half was a true back and forth affair for the most part. In true LAFC fashion, they allowed the opposition to have most of the possession, but unlike their normal selves, they couldn’t find any looks at the goal. The team finished the first half with just three shots, one on target, and zero corner kicks. Meanwhile, Columbus Crew may not have had many clear looks from open play, but they kept to a familiar gameplan against LAFC. They aimed for set pieces and got a lot of them. Crew finished the first half with eight shots, a handful of free kicks and four corner kicks. One of those corner kicks led to the first breakthrough of the match late in the first half.
As time in the half was winding down, Crew secured a corner that led to several key passes while simultaneously breaking down the LAFC defense. Defenders were caught ball watching a bit, letting players find open spaces and a lofty cross into the box ended with a headed effort from Cucho Hernandez that went flying past Lloris for the goal.
CUCHO HERNANDEZ. IT’S WHAT HE DOES.
📺 @LeaguesCup Final on #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/3QrlxnoxB1 pic.twitter.com/vklQPIiIiE
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 26, 2024
After a tough end to the first half, LAFC came out in the second on the front foot and hunting for that equalizer. It looked like Mateusz Bogusz had it, but an offside flag was raised shortly after the ball hit the back of the net. However, in the 57th minute LAFC got a corner of their own. A great ball into the box found the newest member of LAFC, Olivier Giroud, who got his head on it and sent it right past the keeper for the equalizer. It was the first start for Giroud, who also bags his first goal for his new team.
Made for the moment.
Olivier Giroud scores his first goal in Black & Gold! pic.twitter.com/J4e3IBq4Qj
— LAFC (@LAFC) August 26, 2024
It looked like this match was headed for penalties as it remained even late into the match. Not wanting it to get to that point with Hugo Lloris in goal for LAFC, the Crew went all in for a late goal, and as time ticked away, they got just that. Cucho Hernandez played hero for Columbus getting on the end of a solid flick pass into the box that found his head as he leaped, sending it past Lloris for the lead late.
COLUMBUS TAKE THE LEAD IN THE @LEAGUESCUP FINAL IN STOPPAGE TIME!!!! pic.twitter.com/Kv4DnGeoXG
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 26, 2024
As if that wasn’t bad enough, immediately after LAFC were caught heads down, and Crew went for the dagger, with a bit of one-two to find their third goal of the night. Once again, the Crew would get the better of LAFC with a trophy on the line.
ANOTHER ONE IN STOPPAGE TIME!!! COLUMBUS WILL DO IT!!! pic.twitter.com/jryyyfd145
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 26, 2024
The loss marks the second time LAFC have fallen victim to the Crew with a title on the line, and the third straight loss to the side with two of those losses coming on the road. LAFC will now have to shift focus to another big competition as they prepare to hit the road against West Coast rivals, Seattle Sounders in the US Open Cup Semifinal.
Thoughts on the loss? Leave a comment below!
1 Comment
Same response from Cherundolo that we’ve heard following the previous matches. “The game went according to plan and we just lost for…. reasons.” Never, not for even an instant, does he reflect on his tactics resulting in getting dominated for 5 out of 6 halves of football against a team with one outstanding player and few advantages in any other positions on the field. That goal to end the half was coming from the jump and if LAFC were just hoping for them to wear down to balance the field, then how is it that Columbus were the ones more positive at the death and grabbing the winning goal. “We knew they would tire” is not a gameplan in a final!!! It’s so frustrating to see him roll out the same approach three straight times and expect a different result, then take no responsibility. Just had to say this somewhere. I generally believe ‘Dolo is a solid coach but what hope is there for LAFC to win the MLS Cup if they go up against Columbus in the final knowing the manager will not adjust?