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Columbus Crew beats LAFC 2-1 to become MLS champion

Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernandez (9) celebrates after winning the 2023 MLS Cup championship game against LAFC at Lower.com Field. Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Columbus Crew beats LAFC 2-1 to become 2023 MLS champion

By Alyssa Clang | Last updated 12/9/23

Pragmatism versus dogmatism, transitional play versus possession-driven attack. Rarely has an MLS Cup Final offered such dramatic style differences than this one.

But in a record-setting season for the league, one that saw the arrival of Apple TV production, global viewership and a sport-defining legend in Lionel Messi, the twin poles of LAFC and the Columbus Crew made for a perfect finale.

They covered the entire spectrum of MLS in 2023, from LAFC's new-fangled glitz to Columbus's old-school swagger, and they delivered a spectacular end to the most spectacular season in MLS history.

After 90 minutes of dogged domination, the Columbus Crew held on to win the 2023 MLS Cup 2-1 in front of its home faithful at Lower.com field. It's the Crew's third MLS Cup and second this decade.

As MLS's original founding team, Columbus sent off the 2023 season with a clear message: the league may be growing, but it should never underestimate the old guard who made that growth possible.

YOUR 2023 MLS CUP CHAMPIONS pic.twitter.com/j8xsfMMZiW
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) December 9, 2023

As the teams lined up for kickoff, much was made of the opposing styles of LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo and Columbus coach Wilfried Nancy.

Cherundolo's LAFC is patient but lightning-quick, happy to cede possession if it means sprinting forwards in transition. Nancy's Columbus is aggressive and goal-minded, hanging onto the ball as much as possible and charging down the field with abandon every single time it can.

To watch Cherundolo's LAFC is to watch an Italian-inspired catenaccio redux; to watch Nancy's Columbus is to watch a soccer team attack so much that it starts to look like a basketball team.

That difference in approach was evident from the first kick. Columbus started quickly and never, ever let up; its speed and hunger caught LAFC by surprise.

Forget striking in transition; LAFC couldn't strike period. Columbus swarmed it whenever it lost the ball, preventing LAFC from moving forward and nullifying its attacking threat.

Columbus's first goal came from a Cucho Hernandez penalty in the 33rd minute. It was Cucho's eleventh penalty kick of 2023 and 11th penalty goal, sealing a 100% season-wide conversion record for the Colombian striker.

IT’S CUCHO’S HOUSE pic.twitter.com/w5qNd6Yxjb
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) December 9, 2023

The second came minutes later, on the back of a stellar team move from Columbus. It was defender Yaw Yeboah who scored it, on the back of a stellar pass from Amundsen.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THIS PASS @yawyeboah_gh ✘ @malteamundsenn pic.twitter.com/dP70oTlBn2
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) December 9, 2023

LAFC chalked one back in the second half, when MLS top scorer Denis Bouanga found the back of the net after a botched Patrick Schulte save, but it wasn't enough to change the result. Columbus' dominance was never in question, and it fully deserved its victory.

In many ways, MLS has never been healthier. The league will begin 2024 with 30 strong franchises split across the United States and Canada, with buy-in fees for future franchises set about $500M.

But by winning the MLS Cup in such dominant fashion, Columbus proved that MLS's original franchises won't simply get lost in the shuffle. They'll continue to push MLS to new heights, no matter who joins the league or what superstars they bring along with them.

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