Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández once again showcased his talent as he guided his team to a thrilling victory over LAFC in the Leagues Cup final on Sunday. The Colombian player scored two goals, including the game-winning strike in the 92nd minute, leading the Crew to a 3-1 triumph and securing the trophy.
This victory marks the Crew’s second consecutive win against LAFC in a final, having previously clinched the MLS Cup last December. After the match, Hernández expressed his joy, stating, “I am happy for the fans and my family. This is my job and I am glad my teammates can enjoy it.”
Columbus successfully defended the Leagues Cup title for MLS, a year after Inter Miami won the inaugural tournament that features teams from both MLS and Liga MX. The final, held at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, attracted a large crowd, adding to the excitement of the match.
Hernández kicked off the scoring with a powerful header at the end of the first half, but LAFC equalized with a goal from Olivier Giroud, who scored with his own header during his first start for the club. As the game appeared destined for a penalty shootout, Hernández struck again in stoppage time, sending a cross that evaded the LAFC defense and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, finding the net to put the Crew ahead once more.
Shortly after, Hernández assisted Jacen Russell-Rowe, who finished expertly to secure the win. “Our mentality is way better than other teams; this is not our first comeback, we also did it against Inter Miami,” Hernández remarked.
For his outstanding performance, Hernández was named the Best Player of the tournament. Tai Baribo of the Philadelphia Union earned the Top Scorer title, netting seven goals in six matches, while Zack Steffen of the Colorado Rapids was awarded Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.
The victory secures Columbus a spot in the round of 16 of next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup, while LAFC, as the runner-up, will also participate in the first round. Columbus had reached the final of the previous Concacaf Champions Cup but fell to Pachuca 3-0.