Columbus Crew star Cucho Hernández once again showcased his talent as he led his team to a thrilling Leagues Cup victory over LAFC. The Colombian international's stellar performance included scoring two crucial goals, with the decisive strike coming in the 92nd minute to secure a 3-1 win and claim the trophy.
This victory marked the Crew's second consecutive triumph over LAFC in a final, following their MLS Cup win last December. The defending champions successfully retained the Leagues Cup title for the MLS, with Inter Miami being the inaugural winners in 2023.
The match, which took place at the packed Lower.com Field, was a spectacle of high-quality football from start to finish. Hernández opened the scoring towards the end of the first half with a powerful header, only for LAFC to equalize through Olivier Giroud, who was making his first start for the Los Angeles side.
As the game appeared destined for a penalty shootout, Hernández produced a moment of brilliance. His late cross eluded the LAFC defense and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, finding the back of the net to put the Crew ahead once again. In a swift sequence, Hernández then provided an assist to Jacen Russell-Rowe, who clinically finished to seal the victory.
With this win, Columbus secured a spot in the Round of 16 in next year's Concacaf Champions Cup, while Los Angeles earned a place in the first round as the Leagues Cup runner-up. The Crew had previously reached the final of this year's Concacaf Champions Cup but suffered a 3-0 defeat to Pachuca.
