The Columbus Crew secured their spot in the Leagues Cup final with a convincing 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday. Uruguayan forward Diego Rossi led the charge with a brace, showcasing his scoring prowess in the tournament.
The Crew dominated the match from the outset, taking the lead in the 12th minute thanks to a well-executed play by Colombian forward Cucho Hernandez. Hernandez cut inside from the left and forced a save from Union keeper Andre Blake. The rebound fell to Rossi, who volleyed it into the net with a diving header.
However, Columbus’s defensive lapse in the 32nd minute allowed the Union to equalize. A defensive miscue by Yevhen Cheberko gifted the ball to Nathan Harriel, who set up Daniel Gazdag for a simple finish.
Columbus regained their lead just two minutes before halftime when Rossi combined with Christian Ramirez before unleashing a powerful shot past Blake for his second goal of the match.
Rossi’s goal was his sixth in the Leagues Cup, cementing his position as the tournament’s top scorer despite the Crew’s absence from the group stage.
In the 53rd minute, Hernandez sealed the win for Columbus with their third goal. Steven Moreira delivered a precise cross from the right, which Hernandez met with a forceful header. Although Blake saved the initial shot, Hernandez followed through and tapped in the rebound.
Rossi came close to completing a hat-trick in the later stages but his close-range header was tipped over the bar by Blake. Despite a late attempt by Samuel Adeniran, which was saved by Patrick Schulte, the Crew’s victory was never in doubt.
The Crew will now host the winner of the other semifinal, a clash between Los Angeles FC and the Colorado Rapids, in the final on Sunday. The Leagues Cup, which brings together top-flight clubs from Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX, has been entirely held in the United States. Notably, no Mexican teams reached the final four of the tournament. This is the Columbus Crew’s first appearance in a Leagues Cup final.
