Columbus Crew qualified for the Leagues Cup Semi-Finals on Saturday after defeating New York City FC on penalties (1-1, 4-3 in the shootout).
MLS Cup champion in 2023 and led by Colombian Juan Camilo ‘Cucho’ Hernández, the Ohio team had just eliminated Inter Miami and will now face the winner of the Quarterfinal match between Mazatlán FC and Philadelphia Union.
Columbus Crew went down after 12 seconds
The afternoon could not have started worse for the Columbus Crew, as they conceded a goal after just 12 seconds of play.
Sights Set on the Semifinal ⚔️
With the Crew’s PK shootout win over NYCFC, the Black & Gold progress to the Leagues Cup Semifinal on Wednesday where they await the winner of Philadelphia Union and Mazatlán.
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) August 18, 2024
It was the home team that took the ball out of the centre of the field and after New York pressure the ball ended up at the feet of Rudy Camacho.
The center back fell asleep at the start and the very clever Costa Rican Alonso Martinez stole the ball from him and beat Patrick Schulte without opposition to make it 0-1 for New York City after just 12 seconds of play.
Despite that early setback, it did not change the Columbus Crew’s idea of dominating the match through possession.
However, Wilfried Nancy’s men were forced to take risks and left some gaps in their back that New York City, with dynamite on the counterattack, came very close to taking advantage of to decide the match.
Aside from those isolated scares, the Columbus Crew began to accumulate clear chances through Christian Ramírez and, above all, a very active ‘Cucho’.
The Colombian’s persistence was recognised and in the 41st minute he tied the game with a fantastic header from the penalty spot that he directed perfectly at the right post of goalkeeper Matt Freese.
After the break, Columbus Crew’s offensive monologue was even clearer against a New York City that was increasingly retreating.
The chances kept coming and Max Arfsten even had a goal disallowed for offside.
Due to a lack of aim or the actions of a very secure Matt Freese under the New York goal, the match went to penalties after the Uruguayan Diego Rossi wasted the last approach in stoppage time.
Columbus Crew went into the finale feeling like they had earned the necessary merits to win in 90 minutes, while for New York City it was a reward for their defensive efforts and also familiar territory, having beaten Queretaro and New England Revolution on penalties in this Leagues Cup.
However, this time it was a tailspin for the team from the Big Apple: Argentine Maxi Moralez and Uruguayan Santiago Rodríguez missed their shots and the Columbus Crew, despite the error of Uruguayan Diego Rossi, got their ticket to the Semifinals.
