Columbus Crew Top LAFC to Win Third MLS Cup

The Columbus Crew won the 2023 MLS Cup by defeating the LAFC on Saturday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Cucho Hernandez and Yaw Yeboah scored in the first half, and the Columbus Crew held on to beat LAFC 2–1 on Saturday to win their third MLS Cup.

The Crew added the title to their championships in 2008, when they beat the New York Red Bulls, and 2020, when they defeated the Seattle Sounders. Columbus lost to the Portland Timbers in the 2015 title game.

Only the LA Galaxy (five) and D.C. United (four) have won more titles.

MASSIVE WIN. 🏆@COLUMBUSCREW ARE #MLSCUP CHAMPIONS! pic.twitter.com/j0FJKOphUU

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 9, 2023

Hernandez put Columbus up 1-0 on a penalty kick. He deposited the ball in the lower left corner for his fifth goal in six playoff matches this season. He is 9 for 9 from the spot in all competitions in his Crew career.

LAFC defender Diego Palacios was whistled for a handball off his right arm at the top of the box, setting up the penalty.

Yeboah doubled the lead when the Crew, the highest-scoring team in MLS in the regular season, when Malte Amundsen threaded a pass through to Yeboah on the left flank on the last of 11 passes in the build-up.

Bouanga made it 2-1, scoring on his own rebound after Patrick Schulte made the save at the left post. Bouanga, who led the MLS with 20 goals, has 38 goals in 49 matches in all competitions this year.

The Crew missed the playoffs the past two seasons before hiring coach Wilfried Nancy from CF Montreal.