The Columbus Crew won its first Leagues Cup in a 3-1 victory against Los Angeles FC on Sunday at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio.
Cucho Hernández delivered a man of the match performance with two goals and one assist to help the reigning MLS Cup champions to its second major trophy in the past year.
The match was tied 1-1 entering second half stoppage time as the Colombian forward, who would end up taking the Leagues Cup Best Player award, penned a dramatic end to a historic edition in the tournament.
Hernández placed the home side in the lead in the 45th minute with a header at the edge of the goal area to end the deadlock. Mohamed Farsi earned the assist with a short cross from the right side of the penalty area.
“The first goal for me was amazing, because he showed who he is,” said Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy. “Because his passion that he has. He provoked things for the other goals but this is who he is.
“We try to help him and to give him tools to get more consistent, and to to get better, because he wants to be better. So this is a reward for him,” added Nancy.
Remaining aggressive in the second half, Hernández struck a header in the 52nd minute on a free kick service from Diego Rossi, but could not direct the ball on target.
Olivier Giroud equalized for LAFC in the 57th minute with a header of his own to connect with a corner kick from Mateusz Bogusz. The goal marks the first for the Frenchman in his first start with the California club.
Hugo Lloris denied a Christian Ramírez from close range in the 71st minute as the Columbus striker struck a header to meet a well-placed ball from Cucho Hernández.
Diego Rossi attempted to find Jacen Russell-Rowe on the breakaway in the 80th minute but the counter attack was interrupted by LAFC midfielder Timothy Tillman.
Denis Bouanga found one of his best opportunities in the 81st minute, on a ball over the top from Sergi Palencia, but was denied by Columbus goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen.
As the final looked to be headed towards a penalty kick shootout for a second consecutive year, Cucho Hernández struck the match-winner from the left flank two minutes into stoppage time.
Hernández helped to seal the victory by leading a counter attack two minutes later, sliding the ball over to Russell-Rowe for the third goal of the night as supporters in the Nordecke jumped in ecstasy.
“Two moments in the game where we kind of weren't awake and they were,” said LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo. “Really that's the difference. I didn't see much else. Unfortunately for us, we had a few chances to go up two-one in the second half, and I thought we really had them on the ropes, and just couldn't finish those plays.”
Shop the latest Leagues Cup Champions merchandise to celebrate the Columbus victory here.
