Columbus Crew vs LAFC: Preview, predictions, team news

Two Major League Soccer giants willdo battle in the Leagues Cup final as Columbus Crew play host to LAFC at Lower.com Field.

The Crew managed to book their place in the final after a resounding 3-1 triumph over Eastern Conference foes Philadelphia Union in front of their supporters. Diego Rossi was at the double for Wilfried Nancy’s team while Juan ‘Cucho’ Hernandez got in on the act in the second half to secure the win for Columbus.

LAFC punched their ticket to the Leagues Cup final after a and-gold-dominate-to-reach-leagues-cup-final”>dominant 4-0 victory over fellow Western Conference club Colorado Rapids. The match at BMO Stadium remained in a deadlock up until the end of the first half when the hosts scored in quick succession through Mateusz Bogusz and Kei Kamara before Denis Bouanga and Lewis O’Brien rounded off the scoring in the second 45.

Columbus has come out on top in the last two meetings, winning 5-1 at BMO Stadium in July and 2-1 at home in last year’s MLS Cup.

Here’s 90min‘s preview of the Leagues Cup final between Columbus and LAFC.

Last meeting: LAFC 1-5 Columbus Crew (13 July 2024) – MLS

Current form (all competitions)

You can watch all of the Leagues Cup 2024 action on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

The Crew have no new injuries in their camp ahead of the showdown against LAFC.

Columbus Crew predicted lineup vs LAFC ( 3-4-2-1 ): Schulte; Moreira, Camacho, Amundsen; Farsi, Zawadzki, Nagbe, Jones; Ramirez, Rossi; Hernandez.

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Midfielder Timothy Tillman has been sidelined for the last several weeks with a leg injury but the USA international was included on Steve Cherundolo’s bench in the win over Colorado. Although Tillman didn’t feature in the match and was an unused substitute, there’s a chance he could return from injury in the final as a second-half substitute to either change things up in the middle or help see out the result for LAFC.

LAFC predicted lineup vs Columbus Crew ( 3-4-3 ): Lloris; Murillo, Chanot, Long; Palencia, Atuesta, Sanchez, Hollingshead; Bogusz, Giroud, Bouanga.

Both teams are heading into the final with plenty of momentum after their comfortable wins in the semi-finals with the final looking more and more like a toss-up. Both teams have quality all over the pitch and all signs point to an entertaining encounter between two of MLS’ best sides.

LAFC will come out with a chip on their shoulder after their shortcomings in 2023 MLS Cup, and Cherundolo’s squad will narrowly take home a piece of coveted silverware in a penalty shootout at Lower.com Field.

Prediction: Columbus Crew 2-2 LAFC (4-5 on penalties)

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