Late surge sends Crew past LAFC in Leagues Cup final

Cucho Hernandez had two goals, including the go-ahead tally in second-half stoppage time, and an assist as the Columbus Crew used a late rally to earn a 3-1 win over visiting Los Angeles FC on Sunday night in the Leagues Cup final.

Hernandez's match-winner came in the second minute of second-half stoppage time on an effort that was possibly a cross intended for Jacen Russell-Rowe. However, Hernandez managed to put a right-footed shot past Los Angeles goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to put Columbus up 2-1.

Then Hernandez set up a goal by Russell-Rowe just two minutes later to give the Crew their second major trophy in nine months after they also defeated LAFC in the 2023 MLS Cup back in December.

Hernandez finished with four goals in five Leagues Cup matches.

With the victory, Columbus landed a berth in the Round of 16 in next year's CONCACAF Champions Cup. Los Angeles secured a spot in the first round by finishing as the runner-up in the Leagues Cup.

The Crew reached the final of this year's CONCACAF Champions Cup, but they lost 3-0 to Pachuca.

French star Olivier Giroud scored his first-ever goal as a member of LAFC to pull his new club even at 1-1 early in the second half.

Columbus opened the scoring in the 45th minute.

Mohamed Farsi did the leg work to set up his own cross before chipping the ball toward the back post, where Hernandez outmuscled Los Angeles FC midfielder Ilie Sanchez to power a header past Lloris from close range.

Giroud leveled the match in the 57th minute following a corner, with Mateusz Bogusz bending in an inswinging service that Giroud met with a perfectly placed header into the bottom right corner of the net.

Hernandez nearly put Columbus in front in the 71st minute when he dropped a cross from the right side onto the head of Christian Ramirez, whose header went straight to Lloris.

--Field Level Media