By Tony Álvarez
Columbus Crew led in many statistical categories, but not the one that mattered most, as Club América defeated the MLS side 2-0 in the final match of the Leagues Cup Quarterfinals to advance to the Semifinals for the first time in club history.
The result also means that, for the first time in tournament history, four Liga MX teams will make up the Semifinal field, with CF Monterrey, Club León and Toluca FC having already punched their tickets to the final four.
The Mexican side got the party started early, with an extraordinary box-to-box counterattack producing the opening goal. After a long ball, Brian Rodríguez controlled it on the left side of the field before finding Raphael Veiga on the opposite side. Veiga unleashed a left-footed screamer that struck the far post and went in to give América a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute.
Columbus responded, but Rodolfo Cota kept his team in front. In the 17th minute, César Ruvalcaba received the ball inside the box and fired a powerful shot off the post. A minute later, Brais Méndez created another dangerous opportunity, but the América goalkeeper was there to make the save.
Cota’s biggest intervention, however, came from the penalty spot. After Columbus was awarded a penalty for a handball in the 39th minute, Méndez stepped up to take it, but Cota dove to his left to make the save and preserve América’s advantage. Las Águilas would make Columbus pay for the missed opportunity.
Six minutes into first-half stoppage time, Brian Rodríguez was involved again. The Uruguayan collected the ball on the left, dribbled past two defenders and, from the edge of the box, curled a clinical right-footed finish toward the far post to beat the goalkeeper and send América into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
The second half brought more of the same, with Club América comfortable protecting its two-goal advantage and finding space on quick transitions. Columbus, meanwhile, played with the urgency needed to mount a comeback but was unable to find a breakthrough.
In the 54th minute, Josef Martínez had another opportunity when he broke into the box. With Cota coming off his line, Martínez delicately lifted the ball past the goalkeeper, but his effort went just wide of the post. Clear opportunities like that did not come often enough for the MLS side.
Columbus finished with more possession (58%), shots (18), total passes (612) and corner kicks (10) than its opponent, but the Crew could not find the back of the net. Club América made its opportunities count, securing the 2-0 victory and advancing to the Leagues Cup Semifinals for the first time in club history.
REACTIONS
- América Head Coach Guillermo Almada
- “I think we played a near-perfect match because we secured qualification, even though we suffered more than necessary in the second half during certain situations—and we knew about the great quality of many of the Columbus players”.
- “We undoubtedly need to keep working on the defensive side of things—which involves everyone—because we are generating a good volume of play and creating chances while utilizing the width of the pitch, yet it is an issue that requires our attention”.
- Columbus Head Coach Laurent Courtois
- “Considering the transitions we faced, and the club faced, and the roster changed, and the World Cup pause and being able to rebuild in a lot of aspects of the game, internally, what we accomplished against those brilliant Mexican teams in Leagues Cup (…) it´s been really positive for us”
PLAYERS OF THE MATCH
- América
- Brian Rodríguez continues his stellar play in Leagues Cup with a goal and an assist.
GAME NOTES
- With América's in it’s the first time in Leagues Cup history that four Liga MX teams have reached the Leagues Cup semifinals.
- Brian Rodríguez leads all players with six goal participations in the tournament (3 goals, 3 assists).
- Club America reaches first ever Leagues Cup semifinal stage.
- Columbus Crew has lost their last four games (MLS and Leagues Cup).
CARDS/INJURY REPORT
- Yellow Cards:
- América: Óscar Perea
LOOKING AHEAD
- Club America will play Monterrey in the Leagues Cup semifinals.
- Columbus Crew, eliminated from Leagues Cup contention, will play New England Revolution on August 29 in MLS play.
