Recap | LAFC 1-3 Columbus Crew – 2024 Leagues Cup Final

LAFC suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Columbus Crew in the 2024 Leagues Cup Final. Olivier Giroud scored his first goal for LAFC, tying the score at 1-1 early in the second half, but the Crew scored twice in second-half stoppage time to claim the title.

Columbus took the lead just before halftime when Cucho Hernández, who was named the Best Player of 2024 Leagues Cup, headed a short Mo Farsi cross past Hugo Lloris to give the home side a 1-0 advantage heading into the halftime break.

LAFC equalized just before the hour mark with Giroud, who was making his first ever start for the club, scoring for the first time in an LAFC shirt. A Denis Bouanga shot was deflected out for a corner kick, and Mateusz Bogusz found Giroud at the far post with the resulting corner. Giroud’s header snuck past the dive of Columbus goalkeeper Nicho Hagen and inside the post, tying the score at 1-1.

The score would stay that way until the second minute of second-half stoppage time when Hernández would strike again. The Colombian striker collected the ball on the left wing and curled a cross into the center of the six-yard box that found its way into the net to put Columbus back in front.

Columbus added a third goal two minutes later, with Hernández feeding Jacen Russell-Rowe to finish a two-on-one break and give the Crew a 3-1 victory.

LAFC is back in action on Wednesday, August 28, when it will look to qualify for a second final of 2024 by taking on the Seattle Sounders in the Semifinals of the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. That game, which will be played at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. PT and can be seen for free on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.