Its an MLS Cup rematch at BMO this evening. LAFC are playing host to Columbus Crew, the Eastern Conference side that got the best of the black & gold to close out last season, lifting the championship and snapping the back-to-back dreams for Los Angeles. While the team don’t necessarily view this as revenge, everyone else does. More importantly, three points and keeping the unbeaten home record in 2024 are at stake against a very talented Crew side.
Locked in 🔒 pic.twitter.com/zUa3OOhoX6
— LAFC (@LAFC) July 14, 2024
Crew came out like a team looking to prove last time was no fluke. They looked fully capable while also looking like a team wanting nothing more than to be the ones who snapped the unbeaten home record for LAFC. The black & gold are not strangers to letting the opposition keep possession but this time they flew too close to the sun in the first half. The Crew kept nearly 70% of the possession in the first half, but unlike most teams against LAFC, they actually did something with it.
It took 38 minutes but it was the visitors who got on the board first, on build up that felt like it was coming all half. The Crew put together an excellent string of passing to break down the Los Angeles defense, getting into space along the wings, only to send a great ball into the box. There waiting was Christian Ramirez, yes the one time LAFC forward, and he climbed the ladder to head it home taking the lead against his old side.
After a solid team build up, Christian Ramirez heads it home to give @ColumbusCrew the lead! pic.twitter.com/yMKZmdRh2k
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 14, 2024
The goal was the only one to be scored in the first half, as the Crew took the lead into the break. While LAFC didn’t look great the first half, the visitors were far from dominant. It would take a much better second half, but the result was still there for LAFC to grab. Unfortunately, the Crew came out looking to slam the door shut quickly. In the 55th minute Cucho got the ball at the top of the box and unloaded an absolute rocket that hit upper 90 with no way for Lloris to get to it. The lead was doubled.
CUCHO! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/tOODkhGE6z
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 14, 2024
Just five minutes later after some ugly passing from the back, and an unfortunate touch, the ball landed right to another former LAFC player, Diego Rossi, who was in the box and wasted no time in getting his first goal against his old club. In true footballing fashion he refused to celebrate, but the goal was damage enough, putting LAFC down three goals with two coming in a flurry.
Diego Rossi scores against his former club and @ColumbusCrew lead 3-0! pic.twitter.com/BcgNKwJ7NC
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 14, 2024
The rout continued for the visitors, who put the final nail in the coffin in the 84 minute. After a silly foul that saw Palencia given a second yellow and sent off, the ensuing free kick was sent into the box well, where it perhaps glanced off an LAFC defender, but however it got there, it ended up in the back of the net as the Crew added to their already big lead.
Set piece stunner! 🤯@ColumbusCrew extend their lead to 4-0. pic.twitter.com/G5JaNyqD3g
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 14, 2024
Despite being down big and now down a player, LAFC continued to fight and were at the very least able to avoid the shutout with a goal of their own in the 85th minute. After setting up a nice attack that ended up with a shot from range from David Martinez that was initially saved, it was Nathan Ordaz lurking on the wing to follow up the shot and pull one back for LAFC.
.@LAFC pull one back with minutes remaining in the match. 👀 pic.twitter.com/o9KSiydRkH
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 14, 2024
The late whiplash of goals continued minutes later, with Columbus adding a fifth goal in the 89th minute. Nagbe picked the ball off the LAFC player in their own half, and laid it off to Alex Matan who put it home for the fifth and final goal on the night for the Crew. The lead was extended to four, and after some late game coming together that resulted in two more red cards being issued, it was three points for Columbus.
The loss snaps the long unbeaten run for LAFC, as well as gives them their first loss at home this season. Perhaps more concerning was how the team looked. They reverted to how they looked to start the year, in a match they were never really in. They will have to get past this result quickly as their next match is just four days away. Lucky for them, they will be at home to try and start another streak.
Thoughts on the match? Leave a comment below!