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Columbus Crew and LAFC will meet in Leagues Cup final after dominant semifinal wins

safid deen, usa today
·8-min read

The Leagues Cup final is set, and it’s a rematch of last season's MLS Cup final.

The Columbus Crew and LAFC won their Leagues Cup semifinal matches Wednesday night and will meet in the tournament final Sunday at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio.

Columbus advanced as Diego Rossi recorded his third brace in Leagues Cup play. Cucho Hernandez also scored a goal for the Crew in a 3-1 win against the Philadelphia Union.

LAFC rolled to a 4-0 victory against the Colorado Rapids in the other semifinal behind goals by Mateusz Bogusz (42’), Kei Kamara (45’), Dénis Bouanga (59’) and Lewis O'Brien (75’). France's all-time leading goal scorer, Olivier Giroud, played his third match for LAFC as a substitute.

Philadelphia and Colorado will meet in the Leagues Cup third-place match on Sunday. The Union won the third-place match last year.

The Leagues Cup finalists and third-place winner also earn berths to the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup tournament.

The Crew advanced to its third final in the last year, seeking its second trophy: It won the MLS Cup with a 2-1 win vs. LAFC in 2023, and fell to LIGA MX side Pachuca in the Concacaf Champions Cup final earlier this year.

It may be tough for Columbus to beat LAFC three straight times. The Crew traveled to then beat LAFC 5-1 in a July 13 matchup, adding to LAFC’s motivation for the Leagues Cup final.

While the Leagues Cup concludes Sunday, the MLS regular season resumes with 12 games Saturday as the 2024 MLS playoff race heats up.

Check out Wednesday night's Leagues Cup semifinal highlights from USA TODAY Sports:

Highlights: LAFC 4, Colorado Rapids 0 in Leagues Cup semifinal

Highlights: Columbus Crew 3, Philadelphia Union 1 in Leagues Cup semifinal

Final: LAFC 4, Colorado Rapids 0 in Leagues Cup semifinal

LAFC will meet the Columbus Crew in the Leagues Cup final, after a 4-0 victory against the Colorado Rapids behind goals by Mateusz Bogusz (42’), Kei Kamara (45’), Dénis Bouanga (59’) and Lewis O'Brien (75’).

Lewis O'Brien goal: LAFC 4, Colorado Rapids 0

LAFC’s Lewis O’Brien scored as his right boot shot trickled into the net in the 75th minute to make it 4-0 against Colorado.

Dénis Bouanga goal: LAFC 3, Colorado Rapids 0

LAFC is on the verge of reaching the Leagues Cup final. Dénis Bouanga dribbled past Olivier Giroud and delivered a left strike to put LAFC up 3-0 in the 59th minute.

France's all-time leading goal scorer Olivier Giroud enters for LAFC

Olivier Giroud has entered his third match for LAFC as a late-game substitute.

Kei Kamara goal: LAFC 2, Colorado Rapids 0

LAFC has doubled its lead in a hurry. Kei Kamara scored a right strike in the 45th minute, and LAFC leads 2-0 against the Colorado Rapids as halftime approaches in their Leagues Cup semifinal.

If the result stands, LAFC will meet Columbus in the Leagues Cup final Sunday. Columbus beat LAFC in the MLS Cup final last season.

Mateusz Bogusz goal: LAFC 1, Colorado Rapids 0

LAFC’s Mateusz Bogusz has scored in the 42nd minute for a 1-0 lead against the Colorado Rapids in their Leagues Cup semifinal.

Zack Steffen save: LAFC 0, Colorado Rapids 0

LAFC’s Dénis Bouanga and Kei Kamara knocked on the door early, but Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen defended both with two stellar saves in the third minute.

How to watch LAFC vs. Colorado Rapids in Leagues Cup

The semifinal match between LAFC and the Colorado Rapids at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles begins at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. locally) and will be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Final: Columbus Crew beats Philadelphia Union 3-1 in Leagues Cup semifinal

Diego Rossi scored two goals, and Cucho Hernandez added another to propel Columbus Crew to a 3-1 win over Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night, and reach the Leagues Cup final.

The Crew advanced to its third final in the last year, and await the winner of Wednesday night's LAFC-Colorado Rapids match in the final.

Columbus seeks its second trophy: It won MLS Cup in 2023, and fell in the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier this year.

Cucho Hernandez goal: Columbus Crew up 3-1 vs. Philadelphia Union 

Crew star Cucho Hernandez has made his mark with a putback goal in the 53rd minute, and the Crew has a 3-1 lead against Philadelphia. Hernandez followed up his own header to score and extend the Columbus lead.

Diego Rossi goal: Columbus Crew takes 2-1 lead vs. Philadelphia Union

Diego Rossi has a brace again, scoring his second goal in the 42nd minute to help the Crew take a 2-1 lead just before halftime. It’s the sixth goal in Leagues Cup for Rossi, and his third brace during the tournament.

Dániel Gazdag goal: Philadelphia Union ties it up vs. Columbus Crew 1-1

The Union are on the board with Dániel Gazdag finishing toward the net in the 32nd minute, taking advantage of a major backfield mistake by the Crew.

Diego Rossi goal: Columbus Crew takes 1-0 lead vs. Philadelphia Union

Diego Rossi was in the right place at the right time, using his head to score the opening goal for Columbus Crew in the 12th minute and an early 1-0 lead against the Philadelphia Union. Rossi's header followed a shot from Cucho Hernandez.

How to watch Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union in Leagues Cup

The Leagues Cup semifinal match between the Columbus Crew and Philadelphia Union at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio begins at 7:30 p.m. ET, and will be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

The Columbus Crew's Cucho Hernandez (9) drills the ball against Philadelphia Union midfielder Jack McGlynn.
The Columbus Crew's Cucho Hernandez (9) drills the ball against Philadelphia Union midfielder Jack McGlynn.

When is the Leagues Cup final?

The Leagues Cup final and a third-place match will be played on Sunday, Aug. 25.

Leagues Cup betting odds

∎ Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union betting odds: Columbus (-225); Tie (+340); Philadelphia (+425) via BETMGM.

∎ LAFC vs. Colorado Rapids betting odds: LAFC (-225); Tie (+333); Colorado Rapids (+450) via BETMGM.

Leagues Cup final prediction: Columbus Crew vs. LAFC

It would be so fitting in Columbus Crew and LAFC met in the Leagues Cup final, after the Crew beat LAFC 2-1 for the MLS Cup title last season. It would be a high-stakes rematch, and set the tone for the MLS playoff race this season.

When does the 2024 MLS regular season resume?

Most of the 29 MLS teams will return to regular-season play on Saturday, Aug. 24, when there will be 12 matches played (streaming live on MLS Season Pass).

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Columbus Crew and LAFC got to Leagues Cup final: Highlights, score