Malte Amundsen, a defender for Columbus Crew, scored an equalizing goal in the second half of the Campeones Cup match against Club America, bringing the score to 1-1. Despite the Crew’s strong showing, they ultimately fell to Club America in a penalty shootout, losing 5-4 after Amundsen missed the team’s final penalty kick.
Club America entered the match with a formidable defensive line and a vibrant fan presence, which was evident at Lower.com Field on Wednesday. The first half ended in a stalemate, with both teams unable to score. However, Club America gained the lead in the 68th minute when Victor Davila, a second-half substitute, found the net. Amundsen kept the Crew’s hopes alive by scoring from a corner kick taken by Diego Rossi.
With the match ending in a tie after regulation time, the teams headed to a penalty shootout for the second consecutive year. The initial six penalty kicks mirrored each other, with both teams converting their chances until the striking moment when Amundsen’s shot hit the crossbar. Club America’s Nestor Araujo scored the final kick, securing their first Campeones Cup title.
The events of the penalty shootout are as follows:
– Crew first shot: Rudy Camacho scored (1-0)
– Club America first shot: Diego Valdes scored (1-1)
– Crew second shot: Alex Matan missed (1-1)
– Club America second shot: Richard Sanchez missed (1-1)
– Crew third shot: Jacen Russell-Rowe scored (2-1)
– Club America third shot: Rodrigo Aguirre scored (2-2)
– Crew fourth shot: Cucho Hernandez scored (3-2)
– Club America fourth shot: Alvaro Fidalgo scored (3-3)
– Crew fifth shot: DeJuan Jones scored (4-3)
– Club America fifth shot: Victor Davila scored (4-4)
– Crew sixth shot: Aziel Jackson missed (4-4)
– Club America sixth shot: Ramon Juarez missed (4-4)
– Crew seventh shot: Malte Amundsen missed (4-4)
– Club America seventh shot: Nestor Araujo scored, leading to a 5-4 victory.
Previously, the Crew had a perfect record in penalty shootouts this season, defeating Tigres and New York City FC in earlier matches.
Substitutions were a prominent feature in the match, notably with the Crew making five changes in total, including bringing on Aziel Jackson for Diego Rossi and DeJuan Jones for Max Arfsten, among others.
The match at Lower.com Field saw an attendance of 20,198 fans, marking it a sellout. As both teams battled through the first half without a goal, the Crew successfully defended against Club America’s several attempts to score, leading to a tense and closely contested match.
Overall, this provided a thrilling display of soccer, culminating in Club America’s victory and the crowning of their first Campeones Cup champions.