Los Angeles FC can become the first club to win consecutive MLS Cup titles in over a decade when they travel to Lower.com Field to defend their crown against the Columbus Crew on Saturday.
Dramatically, the Crew erased a two-goal deficit in their conference final versus FC Cincinnati, winning 3-2 in extra time, while the Black and Gold captured the Western Conference with a 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo.
Match preview
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When all looked lost, a fortunate bounce in the latter stages of the Hell is Real derby versus Cincy massively changed Columbus' fortunes.
While the own goal by Alvas Powell in the 75th minute was a lucky break, the Crew played well against the Supporters' Shield winners, completing over 300 more passes than them (765-453) and firing eight efforts on target.
Wilfried Nancy's men made history with that triumph, becoming the first away side in the MLS Cup playoffs to overcome a two-goal deficit and advance from a single-leg round.
Saturday will be the fourth appearance in the MLS Cup Final for this club and the third time they host the decisive game, with the Crew losing 2-1 at home to the Portland Timbers in 2015 and defeating 3-0 the Seattle Sounders in Columbus during the 2020 campaign.
In 2020, at Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus ended the Sounders' hope of a dynasty, and they are in that same position this weekend, though they have lost all three of their meetings with LAFC, failing to score once in each of those encounters.
Throughout the 2023 domestic campaign, opposing defences have fallen prey to their short passing approach, with Columbus catching teams out with through balls in behind and the Crew netting multiple times in each of their playoff fixtures this year.
They enter this match unbeaten in 14 successive MLS encounters at Lower.com Field, losing only once there all year (2-1 versus Inter Miami).
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From a side that create tons of chances when in possession, we have Los Angeles FC, who have hung back for long stretches while taking their scoring opportunities when they come.
That approach can be risky, but when you possess a top-notch goalkeeper and the reigning Golden Boot winner, it can be effective and has been throughout the post-season for the Black and Gold.
In their Western Conference final triumph last weekend, Steve Cherundolo joined an exclusive group of managers that have led their sides to the MLS Cup Final in their first two seasons at the helm, with the others being Bruce Arena (1996-97 with DC United) and Brian Schmetzer (2016-17 with the Seattle Sounders).
It has been a marathon campaign for the reigning MLS Cup champions in 2023, playing in 52 matches across all competitions and yet to lift a trophy, losing in the Leagues Cup quarter-finals to Monterrey (3-2), while they were defeated in the CONCACAF Champions League final by Club Leon (3-1 on aggregate) and lost the Campeones Cup final on penalties to Tigres (4-2).
LAFC have not conceded in three successive playoff fixtures despite the opposition having the bulk of the possession in each of those encounters, as the Black and Gold had the ball for only 30% of the time or fewer versus Seattle and Houston.
They are unbeaten in their previous six MLS affairs played away from home, while posting four clean sheets along the way.
Not since their arch-rivals, the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2011 and 2012, have we seen an MLS side win this competition on consecutive occasions, and with a victory on Saturday, LAFC would become just the fourth side to do so since the creation of this league in the mid-90s (DC United in 1996-97, Houston Dynamo in 2006-07).
Team News
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Will Sands will not be available to the Crew this weekend as he continues to recover from a knee injury, while Nancy went with the same starting 11 against Cincy that he had in their conference semi-final triumph over Orlando City (2-0 in extra-time).
For a second match running, Christian Ramirez notched the winning goal last week, though it was an 86th-minute strike by former LAFC forward Diego Rossi which forced extra time, while Cucho Hernandez had a goal involvement for a second straight encounter.
Aidan Morris is the only current Columbus player who featured in the starting 11 in their previous MLS Cup Final appearance in 2020, playing the full 90 minutes against Seattle.
Cherundolo also had the same starting 11 in the LAFC clash versus the Dynamo, with Nathan Ordaz being the only newcomer who did not feature in the conference semi-final to play, replacing Carlos Vela late in the second half.
Ryan Hollingshead scored the winner just before half-time of that match, his third of the 2023 post-season, a Franco Escobar own goal rounded out the scoring, while Maxime Crepeau, who broke his leg in the 2022 MLS Cup Final, has posted three successive clean sheets.
Denis Bouanga saw his six-match goalscoring run end in the conference final as he remains one strike behind Vela for the most with this club in a single MLS campaign, as the 2023 Golden Boot winner has collected 38 across all competitions.
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Schulte; Moreira, Camacho, Amundsen; Farsi, Nagbe, Morris, Yeboah; Matan, Rossi, Hernandez
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Crepeau; Hollingshead, Murillo, Chiellini, Palacios; Tillman, Sanchez, Acosta; Olivera, Vela, Bouanga
We say: Columbus Crew 2-1 Los Angeles FC
Winning consecutive titles is difficult, and given all of the matches that LAFC have played this year, the Crew will likely be a little fresher, which could make the difference in what promises to be a nail-biting affair.
The overall quality of the Crew and home-field advantage may give Columbus more of an edge and propel them to another MLS Cup title.
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
