The Columbus Crew and New York City FC continue their respective quests to win the Leagues Cup for the first time when the two meet in the quarterfinals on Saturday at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio.
A new champion will be crowned after the Crew eliminated 2023 winners Inter Miami CF. Despite the likes of Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, the defending MLS Cup champions rallied for a 3-2 victory with a second half comeback spearheaded by the Columbus attacking trident of Christian Ramirez, Diego Rossi and Cucho Hernández.
“When we don't respect who we are we are average,” said Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy. “Simple as that. The first half, we were not front foot. I'm not talking about the ball, talking about the fact that we like to defend forward, to provoke something, and we didn't do it well. Second half, we did it well, and we did what we were supposed to do during the game.”
Goalkeeper Nicolas Hagen had two saves against Miami as the defense fended off an equalizer, and the potential for penalties, in the final minutes. Hagen has stepped in for usual starter Patrick Schulte, who was part of Team USA at the men’s Olympic soccer tournament in Paris this summer, and the Guatemalan has enjoyed the caveat of representing his nation in the Leagues Cup.
“It's amazing,” said Hagen. “People back home, believe me, they want me to play every single game. They have the most desire for me to succeed. Of course, that comes with a lot of responsibility and a lot of downfall if it doesn't happen. But I take the good parts. I take the responsibility as something like a challenge, for example, to keep working, keep improving, and to put my country’s name on top every time.”
The club from the Big Apple had one of the shocking results of the Round of 16 by taming eight-time Liga MX champions Tigres UANL in a 2-1 victory at Red Bull Arena. After an 18th minute goal by Guido Pizarro, Maxi Moralez spurred the NYCFC comeback with a goal in the 20th and assisting Santiago Rodríguez in the 65th.
“Maxi sets the standard,” said New York City FC head coach Nick Cushing. “He has set the standard at our football club since he's been here. On impacting the game. On being the difference. On carrying a standard that helped us win [the MLS Cup] in 2021.”
Still going strong at the age of 37, Moralez is in his second stint with New York City after returning to his boyhood team in Argentina, Racing Club, during the 2023 season. The NYCFC leader envisions nothing more than making a run at the trophy.
“I think the group, in particular, is focused on trying to reach the last game, which would be the final,” said Moralez. “Undoubtedly, we are focused on that. Now we are playing against another great opponent and we have to have the same intensity, the same mentality as in the last match, because they are one of the best teams in the league today. It's going to be very difficult, more difficult than Tigres.”
