Columbus Crew top LAFC to win franchise's third MLS Cup

Follow the Crew's quest for their third MLS Cup live from Lower.com Field here.

Columbus Crew hold on, win MLS Cup

After both teams substituted en masse in the final 5 minutes, the Crew held off several LAFC scoring attempts to win their third MLS Cup title. The final score was 2-1.

Columbus got first-half goals by Cucho Hernandez and Yaw Yeboah and led 2-0 at halftime. LAFC cut the lead to 2-1 on a goal by Dénis Bouanga in the 74th minute.

Tempers flare late in game

LAFC's Giorgio Chiellini caused a stir in the 89th minute when he ran into Columbus goalie Patrick Schulte and knocked Schulte down. After a minute of arguing an jostling, no cards were issued and the teams played on.

LAFC cuts Columbus Crew lead to 2-1

Dénis Bouanga scored in the 74th minute to pull LAFC to within one. Columbus goalie Patrick Schulte saved Bouanga's first point-blank shot in the sequence, but the LAFC forward put it in on a second try.

Schulte was shaken up on the play but stayed in the game.

Columbus Crew holding onto 2-0 lead

Through 61 minutes, the Crew lead 2-0 and have possessed the ball 65.1% of the game. Columbus has an 11-5 shot advantage and a 5-2 shots-on-goal lead.

Columbus Crew dominant in taking 2-0 lead into halftime

Cucho Hernandez and Yaw Yeboah scored goals and the Crew outshot LAFC 8-4 and had possession of the ball 68.4% of the first half. As for shots on goal, the Crew had two and LAFC one. Columbus had five corners while LAFC had one.

Columbus Crew take 2-0 lead on goal by Yaw Yeboah

Four minutes after taking a 1-0 lead, Columbus made it 2-0 on a goal by Yaw Yeboah off a beautiful pass by Malte Amundsen

Columbus Crew take 1-0 lead on penalty kick

Cucho Hernandez scored on a penalty kick in the 32nd minute after a handball by LAFC's Diego Palacios.

The ball rushed Palacios' right hand after a touch by the Crew's Diego Rossi.

Immediately after the goal, torrential rain hit Lower.com Field.

Cucho Hernandez nearly scores for Columbus Crew

Through 23 minutes, the Crew continue to dominate possession, controlling the ball 71.4% of the time. Columbus has four shots while LAFC has none. Cucho Hernandez had a good scoring chance from outside the box in the 23rd minute but missed just wide. Columbus has 215 passes compared to 88 for LAFC.

Crew dominating time of possession early

Through eight minutes, Columbus has a 81.9%-18.1% advantage in possession and has outshot LAFC 1-0.

No pink cleats for Cucho Hernandez

Even though he has found success wearing pink cleats, Crew star Cucho Hernandez was not wearing them as Saturday's game got underway. Instead, he was wearing light blue shoes.

Notching a team-leading 16 goals and 11 assists in the regular season, Henandez has added four postseason goals. For all four of those, one thing that has been constant – the bright pink shoes.

At the start of a playoff game in Orlando, Hernandez decided to try new white cleats he felt looked nice. He changed during halftime back to the pink pair and netted his late extra-time goal while wearing them.

"It's the cleats that I've been scoring," Henandez said then. "So, I think the rest of the year I'm gonna go with the pink ones."

It's getting noisy at Lower.com Field

Despite this week's ticket fiasco, plenty of Crew fans were able to get their good seats.

Starting lineups set

Here are today's lineups, courtesy of our Brianna Mac Kay:

When is the Columbus Crew vs. LAFC MLS Cup?

Kickoff: 4:10 p.m., Dec. 9; Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio

What channel is the Crew MLS Cup game vs. LAFC on?

The Crew vs. LAFC MLS Cup game will be on FOX, FOX Deportes and Apple TV.

Can I stream the 2023 MLS Cup? How to watch the Crew vs. Los Angeles Football Club without cable

The 2023 MLS Cup will be available on any platform that offers FOX such as YouTubeTV, Hulu Live and Fubo TV, which offers a free trial.

How to listen to the Crew vs. LAFC MLS Cup on the radio

The 2023 MLS Cup will broadcast live on 1460 AM

Here's who will be broadcasting the Crew vs. LAFC match:

• Play-by-play: Chris Doran

How have the Crew done against LAFC in past meetings?

The Crew are still looking for their first goal against LAFC outside of exhibition play.

In three regular-season games, the Crew have been outscored 7-0 by LAFC.

The Crew's only win against LAFC came in a friendly before the 2019 season.

• June 23, 2018: LAFC 2, Crew 0

• Feb. 4, 2019 (Friendly): Crew 4, LAFC 2

• May 11, 2019: LAFC 3, Crew 0

• May 21, 2022: LAFC 2, Crew 0

Funny guy Will Ferrell hits Columbus

LAFC has plenty of star power in its front office, and one of the team's owners, comedian/actor Will Ferrell is in town for the game.

According to social media reports, Ferrell did his best to rally LAFC fans at Gaswerks Bar in the Arena District on Friday night.

Ferrell also mingled with fans before the game on Saturday.

Other LAFC owners include NBA great Magic Johnson, former soccer star Mia Hamm Garciaparra and her husband, former baseball star Nomar Garciaparra.

Alexi Lalas: MLS Cup is 'Nouveau riche LAFC' vs. Crew's 'Midwestern humility'

FOX soccer analyst Alexi Lalas boiled down Saturday's matchup as Hollywood vs. Ohio.

How did the Crew make the 2023 MLS Cup?

Two road wins against Orlando City SC and FC Cincinnati helped the Crew advance to the MLS Cup against LAFC.

• Nov. 1: Crew 2, Atlanta United 0

• Nov. 7: Atlanta United 4, Crew 2

• Nov. 12: Crew 4, Atlanta United 2

• Nov. 24: Crew 2, Orlando City SC 0

• Dec. 2: Crew 3, FC Cincinnati 2

How did LAFC make the 2023 MLS Cup?

Back-to-back shutouts against Seattle Sounders SC and Houston Dynamo FC secured LAFC its second-straight MLS Cup appearance.

• Oct. 28: LAFC 5, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2

• Nov. 5: LAFC 1, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0

• Nov. 26: LAFC 1, Seattle Sounders FC 0

• Dec. 2: LAFC 2, Houston Dynamo FC 0

Columbus Crew postseason history

The Crew have a record of 27-24-7 in playoff games, while posting a 19-7-2 record at home. The Crew have won both of its first two playoff games at Lower.com Field.

LAFC postseason history

LAFC have a playoff record of 8-3 heading into Saturday's MLS Cup match. They currently hold a seven-gam win streak in postseason play.

Which Crew and LAFC players have played in an MLS Cup?

Here are the Crew and LAFC players that have experience playing in an MLS Cup match.

Darlington Nagbe was on the Crew's roster when they won an MLS Cup in 2020, but did not play due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Josh Williams was on the roster of Toronto FC's MLS Cup final against 2016, but did not play. Jimmy Medrana was on Sporting Kansas City's 2013 team, but did not play in the MLS Cup final.

Crew

Defender Malte Amundsen (2021 — New York City FC)

Midfielder Julian Gressel (2018 — Atlanta United)

Midfielder Aidan Morris (2020)

Midfielder Darlington Nagbe (2015 — Portland Timbers, 2018 — Atlanta United)

Defender Josh Williams (2020)

LAFC 

Midfielder Kellyn Acosta (2022)

Forward Denis Bouanga (2022)

Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (2022)

Defender Ryan Hollingshead (2022)

Goalkeeper John McCarthy (2022)

Defender Jesus Murillo (2022)

Defender Diego Palacios (2022)

Defender Eddie Segura (2022)

Midfielder Ilie Sanchez (2022)

Forward Carlos Vela (2022)

Will Don Garber be at the MLS Cup?

Don Garber, the MLS commissioner, will be at the 2023 MLS Cup Saturday in Columbus.

Crew fans continue to have animosity toward Garber after former team owner Anthony Precourt tried to move the club to Austin, Texas.

A movement of Crew fans helped keep the team in Columbus, while Cleveland Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam bought the club. A new stadium was built downtown, which will be the host of the 2024 All-Star Game.

“I have this new expression – no pressure, no diamonds – and we're sitting here with a jewel of a facility and a great market,” Garber said at the All-Star Game announcement. “We had to go through some challenges to get here, but we couldn't be more pleased.

“Sitting where we are today, it is an absolute win for everybody. It’s a win for the city, a win for its fans, a win for Major League Soccer and ultimately and most importantly, a win for what the Columbus Crew means in the community and what it will mean for generations to come.”

Columbus Crew breaks records with offense in 2023

The Crew had one of the best offenses in MLS in 2023, recording 67 goals in 34 regular-season matches, which is tied with 1998 for the most in club history.

The Crew's plus-21 goal differential was the best in MLS and the best in club history, surpassing 2020 by six goals.

How have the Crew done in home matches?

Lower.com Field is where the Crew have been at their best.

The Crew scored 41 of their 67 goals in 17 home games, posting the best home goal differential in MLS at plus-27, which is also a club record by 11 goals.

The Crew also tied their club record with 12 home wins in 2023.

The Crew have only lost one of their last 27 home matches dating back to August 2022.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew top LAFC to win franchise's third MLS Cup