In a thrilling penalty shootout at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Club América emerged victorious, becoming 2024 Campeones Cup champions after winning a penalty shootout.
The Liga MX side had entered the match in middling form in the 2024 Apertura — recent wins against Chivas and Atlas were their first in the league since July, and they had also been knocked out of Leagues Cup 2024 by Colorado Rapids on penalties. The Crew, meanwhile, have been one of Major League Soccer’s hottest teams, locked in a fierce battle with Hell is Real rivals FC Cincinnati for second place in the league’s Eastern Conference.
With a trophy on the line, though, Mexico’s most successful team in history wasn’t one to be underestimated, even against a Crew side who had won Leagues Cup and were hoping to win a third honor (along with MLS Cup) in less than ten months. Both managers picked strong lineups, but even so, the match got off to a cagy start.
While Patrick Schulte made a good diving save to deny Brian Rodríguez on 15 minutes, there was little action to speak of as neither side wanted to cede the advantage to the other. Things heated up considerably as the match approached halftime, though — first Cucho Hernández, one of MLS’ top players this season, came close with a header from a corner, firing just over the bar, before Luis Malagón made a fine save to deny Diego Rossi on the counter.
The start to the second half was also played at a restrained tempo, but when that lull lifted, it was again Malagón who played the hero, stopping Christian Ramirez from range. Schulte matched him just moments later, though, denying Álvaro Fidalgo from a tight angle before Club América coach André Jardine changed out his forward line, a move that would prove decisive, as just seven minutes later, Chilean striker Víctor Dávila put América ahead with a sublime finish.
Columbus wouldn’t need long to equalize, though, as defender Malte Amundsen levelled from a corner (77’). No real chances came in the match’s final fifteen minutes, so the match would be settled on a penalty shootout. Malagón saved the second kick of the shootout from substitute Alexandru Matan and it looked like América had the advantage, but Schulte did the same against Richard Sánchez and the two sides were level again.
After five kicks, it was four-all and in sudden death as Malagón again came up big to deny Aziel Jackson, but Schulte did the same against Ramón Juárez, leaving it still tied. On the Crew’s final kick of the shootout, Amundsen hit the bar before defender Nestor Araujo converted for Club América, allowing them to lift the trophy as 2024 Campeones Cup champions.
Match details:
2024 Campeones Cup - Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio
Columbus Crew 1-1 Club América (4-5 on penalties)
Goals:
Columbus Crew: Malte Amundsen (77’); Club América: Víctor Dávila (68’)
Bookings:
Columbus Crew: Sean Zawadski (32’)
Lineups:
Columbus Crew (3-4-3): Schulte; Moreira, Camacho, Amundsen; Farsi (Herrera 88’), Zawadski (Matan 78’), Nagbe, Arfsten (Jones 87’); Ramirez (Russell-Rowe 78’), Hernández, Rossi (Jackson 86’)
Club America (3-4-3): Malagón; Juárez, Araujo, Calderón (Dilrosun 81’); Espinoza, Dos Santos (Sánchez 81’), Fidalgo, Borja; Zendejas (Valdes 61’), Martín (Aguirre 61’), Rodríguez (Dávila 61’)
