MLS Cup Final: The Final Countdown!
By: Anthony Tazbaz
Image Credit: Tareq Ismail
After nine months of action, it is down to the final on Saturday, December 9!
Following the MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Finals matches held on Saturday, the MLS Cup Final will consist of a rare matchup between Columbus Crew and Los Angeles FC (LAFC) at Lower.com Field in Columbus (16:00 EST).
Columbus claimed another road victory after defeating Supporters' Shield winners — 2023 regular season champions — FC Cincinnati at TQL stadium in the renowned Hell is Real derby. After trailing 2-0 at halftime, Columbus clawed back with two goals in the second half and a go-ahead goal (no pun intended) by Christian Ramirez in extra-time completed the comeback (or a Cincinnati implosion, depending on one's perspective).
LAFC claimed the Western Conference for consecutive seasons after defeating playoff dark horses Houston Dynamo 2-0 at BMO Stadium. Defender Ryan Hollingshead gave the Black and Gold a 1-0 lead and a late own goal by Franco Escobar sealed the end to the season of this year's most improved club.
A Deeper Look
This final will consist of a battle between both 3rd-place clubs from each conference. However, Columbus holds home field advantage after finishing higher in the overall standings with 57 points from its 34 regular season matches, a five-point lead above LAFC. Columbus finished with two more wins (16 wins, nine draws, 9 losses) than LAFC, who finished with 14 wins, 10 draws and 10 losses.
Across other competitions in 2023, LAFC nearly achieved CONCACAF glory by qualifying for the final of the CONCACAF Champions League — now re-branded and formatted as the CONCACAF Champions Cup. However, LAFC lost to Club León 3-1 on aggregate, earning LAFC the unique distinction as the only MLS club to lose more than one Champions League final.
This final will also mark only the fourth all-time competitive duel between both clubs. Historically, LAFC has been the dominant side, winning all three matches, including two held in Columbus. The last matchup came last season on May 21, where LAFC won 2-0 at the very venue hosting next week's MLS Cup Final. LAFC also blanked Columbus in all three matches, with the first duel — a 2-0 victory from the only match held in Los Angeles — dating back to June 23 2018, during LAFC's expansion season.
However, Columbus possesses ample experience in MLS Cup Playoffs, particularly in the final. Several players remember their last match at the old Columbus Crew Stadium in December 2020, where they defeated the Seattle Sounders 3-0 to claim the club's second MLS Cup. It will be Columbus' fourth final appearance, with the club also qualifying for the final in 2008 and 2015, resulting in a championship and a 2-1 home loss against Portland Timbers, respectively.
Bottom Line
LAFC will compete in its second MLS Cup Final in as many seasons. Should LAFC win again, the club will enter the history books as becoming only the fourth club to win the MLS Cup in consecutive years and the first since LA Galaxy in 2011 and 2012.
Although the club lost forwards Christian Arango and Kwadwo Opoku — who currently play for Real Salt Lake and CF Montréal, respectively — Bouanga picked up where they left off. After struggling to score during the second half of last season following his arrival last summer for €4.55m, Bouanga scored 30 goals in all competitions so far this season.
This tally earned Bouanga the 2023 MLS Golden Boot (20 goals) and a position among the world's best scorers for the 2023 calendar year. His offensive presence and ability to win matches on his own will certainly be planted into the Crew players' minds.
In addition to 20-goal scorer Cucho Hernandez (regular season + playoffs) and playoff hero Christian Ramirez — who scored game winners in both the conference semifinal and conference final — Columbus's Darlington Nagbe will look to lead the club to its third MLS Cup and a fourth for himself. Should the Crew win, Nagbe will become only the ninth player in MLS history to win four or more MLS Cups. This would also complement his previous accolade in which he won three MLS Cups with three different clubs: Portland in 2015 (ironically against the Crew); Atlanta in 2018 (ironically against Portland); and Columbus in 2020.
On a final note, a Columbus win would be a bittersweet moment for CF Montréal supporters. The Crew boasts former player Rudy Camacho — who was traded to Columbus during the summer — and head coach Wilfried Nancy, who are both having incredible seasons. Following a spat last season with Montréal owner Joey Saputo — who berated Nancy following a loss against Sporting KC in July — Nancy ultimately envisioned his career progressing elsewhere and chose an ascending club, who missed the playoffs by only a whisker in 2022.
An MLS Cup for a coach and player who both played instrumental roles in Montréal's historic 2022 season would create a wholesome moment while also further reminding supporters that Montréal may have let a genuine shot at the title slip away at its own peril.
This year's MLS Cup will surely be one to watch! It remains to be seen whether it can repeat the chaos witnessed last year between LAFC and Philadelphia Union: a 3-3 draw after extra-time, a red card and a cup won in a penalty shootout.
Comment your MLS Cup Final predictions below!
