Head coach Wilfried Nancy’s team produced a masterclass performance Saturday at rain-soaked Lower.com Field, resulting in the Eastern Conference club’s third-ever MLS Cup after their 2008 and 2020 squads also entered the history books as champions.
First-half goals from Cucho Hernández (33′) and Yaw Yeboah (37′) gave Columbus a cushion to absorb a Dénis Bouanga (74′) lifeline, denying LAFC’s MLS Cup repeat quest. In the process, head coach Wilfried Nancy’s group has climbed the 29-team mountaintop that began with MLS is Back weekend on Feb. 25.
Before raising the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy, Columbus pulled ahead through Cucho’s authoritative penalty kick – helping him earn MLS Cup MVP presented by Audi honors and finish with an Audi MLS Cup Playoffs co-leading five goals. That opportunity arose when referee Armando Villarreal pointed to the spot, judging LAFC defender Diego Palacios to have handled a flicked-up touch from Diego Rossi.
The Crew, the league’s highest-scoring team in 2023, quickly doubled their advantage when Yeboah capped an 11-pass buildup. The Crew’s left wingback was on the receiving end of Malte Amundsen‘s line-splitting through ball, then sliced home an outside-the-foot finish past goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau.
But, as was so often the case in 2023, Bouanga would not be silenced. The Best XI forward slipped a second-effort shot past goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, drawing him level with teammate Carlos Vela for the most calendar-year goals (38) in MLS across all competitions (Vela’s MVP-winning 2019).
The Black & Gold’s late push fizzled out, though. And the hosts, after seven minutes of second-half stoppage time, were left dancing as champions.