Yarr! The Columbus Crew hath triumphed once again, claimin' their second MLS Cup in a mere four years! They've sent last year's champion LAFC to Davy Jones' locker!
2023-12-09
Avast ye! Yonder LAFC's quest to be but the fourth franchise to claim back-to-back MLS titles be dashed, as they suffered a one-goal defeat at the hands of the Columbus Crew on the Sabbath. Arrr, tough luck, lads!
In a thrilling match on Saturday, the Columbus Crew emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over the 2022 champion LAFC to claim the 2023 MLS Cup. This marked the franchise's third MLS Cup, with two of the titles won in the last four seasons. However, the LA Galaxy still hold the record for the most titles in MLS history with five.The Columbus Crew's win is a remarkable achievement considering their recent turn of events. After winning the 2020 MLS Cup, the team failed to make it to the playoffs in the next two seasons. But this season, they underwent significant changes, including the appointment of Wilfried Nancy as the head coach, leading to a remarkable turnaround and a well-deserved victory in the final.
The goals that secured the win for the Crew came from Cucho Hernandez in the 33rd minute and Yaw Yeboah in the 37th minute. Hernandez scored from a penalty kick, while Yeboah's goal was the result of a beautiful pass from Malte Amundsen. LAFC's Denis Bouanga managed to score a goal in the 74th minute, but it wasn't enough to overturn the Crew's lead.
The objective for the Columbus Crew in the second half was to avoid the same fate as FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference final, where they had rallied from a two-goal deficit in the final 15 minutes and won in extra time. Fortunately for the Crew, they held on to their lead and emerged as the champions of the 2023 MLS Cup.
Overall, it was a thrilling match that showcased the talent and determination of the Columbus Crew, ultimately leading to their well-deserved victory and the franchise's third MLS Cup title.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.