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Denis Bouanga Sports Press Photo

MLS Cup preview: Positions to watch as LAFC, Crew duel for title

By Alyssa Clang | Last updated 12/8/23

The 2023 MLS season comes to a close Saturday with the 28th annual Major League Soccer Cup Final. Representing the Eastern Conference are the Columbus Crew, one of MLS's original founding sides. The Western Conference is represented by LAFC, the defending MLS champion.

The teams couldn't be more different, and the game — hosted by Columbus at 4 p.m. ET — is set to be a fascinating tactical battle. Where on the field is the game likely to be won or lost? Here are the positions we're keeping an eye on as the clock ticks down to the final.

The right wing: Columbus is facing a conundrum on the right side of its defense. Should it start Mohamed Farsi, the dynamic rookie, or Julian Gressel, the process-driven stalwart with MLS Cup pedigree?

Coach Wilfried Nancy chose Farsi for the majority of the playoffs, and it's easy to see why. The Canadian spark plug simply doesn't play like anybody else in MLS. He spent his career playing futsal, a wild, fast-paced indoor soccer variant from South America that involves precise footwork and split-second improvisation. Farsi brings that speed, cheekiness and unpredictability to the Columbus right wing in spades.

Give. Go. Get. Goal. @S_MoreiraOff @Farsi_15 #Crew96 | 1-0 pic.twitter.com/QM4jRT4BFf
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) April 27, 2023

Are speed, cheekiness and unpredictability what you want in a final, or are you better served by process, organization and reliability — the hallmarks of Gressel's play? LAFC finds lots of success attacking down the right wing, with Timothy Tillman and Ryan Hollingshead combining for several goals this season. Nancy must decide if Farsi's creativity or Gressel's steadfastness is more likely to stymie the opponent.

The 9 and 99: We always hope the MLS Cup Final will bring us the two best attackers in the league, and this one delivers. On one end, wearing the No. 9 shirt for Columbus, is Cucho Hernandez, the Colombian powerhouse.

On the other, wearing No. 99 for LAFC, is Denis Bouanga, the French-born goal-scoring machine. They could not be more different — Hernandez is physical and tricky while Bouanga is lanky and patient. Their form could determine who wins this closely matched final.

Denis Bouanga does it again ⚽️

(via @MLS)pic.twitter.com/UNjMv41R5k
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 27, 2023

LAFC's Bouanga has the edge here, scoring more goals (and more crucial goals) this season than Hernandez, but if Hernandez can lean in to the emotion of the occasion, he might be able to ride his temperament all the way to the podium.

The bench. With many MLS Cups determined in extra time, the B-team could be the deciding factor for both squads. Who is available to come on as a substitute? What kind of impact can they make?

Columbus has the more intriguing bench of the two sides, with one of Farsi or Gressel available in defense and MLS legends Kevin Molino and Christian Ramirez available in attack. LAFC, meanwhile, is hurt by how early its substitutions are likely to take place. With 39-year-old Giorgio Chiellini in defense and 34-year-old Carlos Vela up front, LAFC may need to make changes early in the second half, reducing its ability to add fresh legs at crunch time.