PHOTO: LAFC Communications
LAFC does not defeated Columbus Crew since the 2022 MLS Regular Season. In that game, Carlos Vela was still part of the Black and Gold and Lower.com Stadium did not exist yet. Since then, two finals and one Round of 16 game saw the Crew defeating the Californian team; however, such 2-1 win was not enough for the Crew to move forward in the 2025 CONCACAF Cup. A 3-0 victory at BMO Stadium one week before, and an outstanding save by Hugo Lloris has Steve Cherundolo´s team on the next round of this tournament, where LAFC has played two finals; against Tigres during the 2020 pandemic and versus Leon in 2023.
One of the original members of the MLS had a dynamic attack with former LAFC member Diego Rossi, Dylan Chambost, and Jacen Rusell-Rowe. The center-forward player scored the first goal for the Crew, this at the 10th minute. Diego Rossi stopped the ball like great skill, moved to the right sie, dribbled Sergi Palencia easily, and placed the ball in the area. Russell-Rowe left footed the ball givinb the one-goal advantage to the Crew.
LAFC´s defensive performance is full of question marks. The defensive pair of Eddie Segura and Aaron Long, which started on this game, Eddie Segura ¨hand-balled¨ the ball twice, this at the end of the first half. Diego Rossi scored the seconnd goal from the penalty spot, Thus, Columbus needed one goal to go to extra time and two to move forward.
The second half saw a decrease in intensity in the home team, but plenty of mistakes on the visitors. Even Oliver Giroud was making wrong passes when recieving the ball in the midfield. But the highlight that kept LAFC alive with a save by World Cup winner Hugo Lloris. A couple of saves in one-on-one battles with the Crew attackers was banish by an outstanding save at the 65th minute. A deliver to the area ended with a header and a left foot shot by Max Arsfens.
At the end of the game, LAFC had one of its traditional counterattacks that ended with an usual effective conclusion by none other than Denis Bouanga. A discrete game ended with yee another goal by the Gabonese striker. Thus, LAFC ended with a 2-1 defeat and a qualifiqation to th next round. The next oponent will be Lionel Messi´s Inter Miami.
