Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy expressed disbelief and amusement following his team’s loss to Club América in the Campeones Cup final on Wednesday night. The match, held at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, ended in a dramatic penalty shootout that saw Club América prevail 5-4 after a 1-1 draw in regulation.
The clash between the champions of MLS and LIGA MX was not without controversy. Crew player Malte Amundsen, who netted the equalizer in the 77th minute, missed his penalty shot, hitting the crossbar in the sixth round. Observers noted that América’s goalkeeper, Luis Malagón, appeared to leave his line before the shot was taken. Nancy commended the referees for their guidance throughout the penalty shootout but questioned their ruling at the critical moment. “The goalkeeper was not on his line… I’m really proud of what they did, but we have to move forward,” he said.
Club América’s Néstor Araujo scored the decisive penalty kick just after Amundsen’s miss, sealing the victory for his team. Columbus Crew’s recent championship record stands at 2-2, following a win against LAFC for the 2023 MLS Cup and a recent Leagues Cup victory, but a loss to Pachuca in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Nancy emphasized the need for his players to recover quickly, as they celebrate their MLS Cup title at the White House on Friday before a match against D.C. United on Saturday. Furthermore, they are set to host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on October 2, a clash that could influence the race for the MLS Supporters’ Shield.
In the penalty shootout, Columbus saw misses from Aziel Jackson and Amundsen while standout players Diego Rossi and Christian Ramirez were not on the field for key moments. Amundsen’s goal brought momentum to the Crew after they had fallen behind to a 68th-minute goal from Club América’s Víctor Dávila.
Club América claimed another trophy with their win, reinforcing their status as a powerhouse in Mexican football with 15 league titles, the most in their history.