In a thrilling Campeones Cup match, the Columbus Crew and Club America faced off, ultimately leading to a penalty shootout after a 1-1 tie in regulation. Crew defender Malte Amundsen played a pivotal role in the game, equalizing in the second half but later missing the decisive penalty kick that allowed Club America to claim the trophy with a final score of 5-4.
The match unfolded at Lower.com Field, drawing a rowdy crowd eager for action. Both teams struggled to find the net in the first half, but Club America broke the deadlock in the 68th minute with a goal from substitute Victor Davila. The Crew responded shortly after when Amundsen converted a rebound from a corner kick taken by Diego Rossi, leveling the game at 1-1.
With the score still tied at the end of regulation, the match advanced to penalties for the second consecutive year. The shootout proved to be a tense exchange, with both teams making alternating successes and failures. Columbus started strong with Rudy Camacho’s successful penalty kick, but Club America’s Luis Malagon saved the second attempt from Alex Matan. The teams traded goals and misses until Amundsen’s attempt hit the crossbar, leaving the Crew at a disadvantage. Nestor Araujo then converted the final penalty for Club America, securing their first Campeones Cup title.
Noteworthy moments during the match included numerous substitutions by both teams and a sellout crowd of 20,198 spectators. The Crew maintained a solid performance throughout, including a series of saves by goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, but ultimately fell short in the decisive moments of the shootout.
This year’s Campeones Cup featured standout performances from both sides and highlighted the Crew’s previous successes in penalty shootouts, offering an exciting contest for fans.