COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Leagues Cup final Sunday night pits a pair of familiar teams against each other: The Columbus Crew and Los Angeles FC met at Lower.com Field with a trophy on the line just nine months ago. The Crew lifted the MLS Cup in front of their home fans and are aiming to celebrate another trophy at home, while LAFC wants to spoil the party with their first international trophy win.
There is the added intrigue of the teams having met in a rematch earlier this summer in league play, a match that ended in a decisive Crew victory. But what does that history mean when the ball starts rolling? It depends on who you ask.
LAFC manager Steve Cherundolo and his players insist they’re not out for revenge in this game, while Wilfried Nancy and the Crew are adamant: This LAFC team will be tough to beat three times in a row.
Clearly, these are two different teams. Both continue to evolve, even during Leagues Cup. French star Olivier Giroud debuted this tournament and could make his first-ever LAFC start Sunday. The Crew also have added players during the run - though it’s been a less turbulent transfer window than when they said goodbye to Lucas Zelarayan during last year’s Leagues Cup.
Part of the reason the previous meetings feel significant heading into Sunday is just how rare it is for teams to hold an edge over LAFC when it comes to recent history.
The Crew won MLS Cup here in 2023, closing out the first half strong and protecting the 2-0 advantage they took into the locker room - though Denis Bouanga’s 74th-minute goal made things interesting.
The Crew then did something no one does: They went into BMO Stadium on June 13 and smashed LAFC, returning home with a 5-1 victory that the league’s official YouTube channel branded a “Statement Win!”
“I think there were not great moments that we played them at and didn’t have good performances,” Cherundolo said Friday. “I’m not concerned about matchups or tactics. It’s all pretty clear. It’s about individual performances. The first two matches against them, we had some poor ones. The other night, we had great ones.
“Their expectations are to win. They’re at home and playing for a trophy - as is ours. I think it’s as simple as that. I don’t think it needs to be more complicated than that either.”
Nancy also downplayed what June’s meeting might say about a game with as many external factors as a Leagues Cup final.
“This game, yes we won it, but I think it was two months ago. In two months, many things can happen,” Nancy said. “At this moment, we were really good. It’s a fact. We had a really good game. It’s a fact. On our side, we kept going, we’ve had a good run. They did too, so we’re ready to face (them) again.
“They have a good staff and also really good players in each position. They now have Giroud. I don’t know if he’s going to start or not, but he’s an extra tool for them. He’s still a really good player. Good team, good players, good opposition. Really excited to play this game.”
While that respect definitely appears to be mutual, even more so with the Crew having taken the last couple meetings, LAFC say any echoes of the past will allow them to be less tense, not more.
“They’ve had our number with the title last year and coming (to LA) and winning,” LAFC defender Ryan Hollingshead said. “It’s a lot of pressure on them to keep that going. For us, we get to go in and play a little bit free and just enjoy the game.”
As he left BMO Stadium after the semifinal, LAFC midfielder Ilie Sanchez told reporters he hoped the press would tag Columbus as the favorite. Asked Saturday to expand on those comments, the Spaniard said, “Obviously, they beat us in the last games we played against them, so I guess that’s the feeling that you all have and that they probably also have right now.”
Or maybe it’s a desire to heap expectation and pressure on a team that has been a bit of a bogey team for LAFC.
Perhaps that presupposition is why Nancy is placing an emphasis on finding rest days for this players, hardly a surprise for a manager whose favorite English word appears to be “mentality.” Even with an easier build-up period, hosting the final after also hosting the midweek semifinal while LAFC travels for the title-decider, Nancy and his players have worked to find a mental recess from the game.
“Don’t think too much about the final. That’s the most important. At this moment, we are ready to play the final,” forward Cucho Hernandez said. “We’re excited to see the fans again and are so excited to have another final here. That’s special, and we want to give the fans another cup.”
After securing their places in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, it’s what each team is now focused on: Earning the guaranteed place in the CCC Round of 16 that goes to the Leagues Cup champion, lifting the two-bowled trophy, and overall savoring the feeling of celebrating another trophy with their fans.
