Campeones Cup final: Columbus Crew falls to Club América after thrilling penalty shootout

Wilfried Nancy, coach of the reigning MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew, could only laugh in disbelief after a controversial no-call left his team without the Campeones Cup title. The columbus crew – américa match ended in a 1-1 draw, followed by a 5-4 penalty shootout in favor of Club América at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday night.

The thrilling columbus crew vs. américa showdown saw seven rounds of penalties after the tie, with Club América emerging victorious. The match, featuring the reigning MLS and LIGA MX champions, concluded with América celebrating a trophy on the very pitch where the Crew had recently lifted both their MLS Cup and Leagues Cup titles.

The Crew’s Malte Amundsen, who had equalized in the 77th minute, missed his penalty shot in the sixth round, hitting the crossbar. Controversy erupted as América goalkeeper Luis Malagón appeared to leave his line before the shot, but the referees let it stand. “The goalkeeper was not on his line,” Nancy said, laughing in frustration. “The referee said it didn’t affect the shot. So, I don’t know, the rules are rules.”

In the decisive moment, Club América’s Néstor Araujo scored the game-winning penalty, slipping the ball through the hands of Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, sealing a 5-4 win for america vs columbus crew.

Despite the disappointment, Columbus has had an impressive run in championship games over the last year. The Crew won the 2023 MLS Cup and Leagues Cup but lost in the Concacaf Champions Cup final against Pachuca in June. A victory in the Campeones Cup would have made the Crew the first team to win the prestigious title twice, after their 2021 triumph.

For club américa, this victory adds another trophy to their already impressive collection. They hold a record 15 league titles, further cementing their status as a LIGA MX powerhouse.

In the penalty shootout, Víctor Dávila, along with Diego Valdés, Rodrigo Aguirre, and Álvaro Fidalgo, scored for américa, while Rudy Camacho, Jacen Russell-Rowe, Cucho Hernández, and DeJuan Jones found the net for columbus crew américa. Unfortunately, Aziel Jackson and Alexandru Matan missed for Columbus. The Crew was also without key players Diego Rossi and Christian Ramirez, both of whom were substituted out during the second half.

Looking ahead, Columbus still has a chance to secure more silverware this season. They will visit the White House on Friday to celebrate their 2023 MLS Cup victory and face D.C. United on Saturday. They will then host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami next Wednesday, a game that could decide the MLS Supporters’ Shield.

Reflecting on the match, Nancy expressed his pride in his players despite the loss: “I’m sad for the players because they deserved better, but I’m really proud of what they did. We got close to winning this game, but we didn’t. We have to digest and move forward.”

Alineaciones de Columbus Crew contra Club América were highly anticipated, and the match lived up to expectations with both sides delivering a spectacle. Ultimately, américa vs hoy proved to be another chapter in the rivalry between MLS and LIGA MX, with Víctor Dávila and his teammates leading Club América to a hard-fought victory in Columbus.

The Campeones Cup has now been won by MLS teams three times and by LIGA MX sides three times, showcasing the growing competition between the two leagues. Columbus Crew vs. Club América was a rematch of their recent Leagues Cup meeting, where the Crew won 4-1, but this time, the Mexican champions got their revenge.