After four weeks of play, the 2024 Leagues Cup is finally coming to a close. The Columbus Crew and Los Angeles FC will meet at Columbus's Lower.com field to crown a champion and usher in the final phase of the MLS regular season.
There are plenty of fascinating threads running through this game, but four questions stand out as kickoff draws near: Can LAFC finally find a way through Wilfried Nancy's Columbus Crew? LAFC cruised through the Leagues Cup in fine form, scoring 18 goals across its six appearances, but it's kept its expectations low for Sunday's final. "I want you guys to write that Columbus is the favorite," midfielder Ilie Sanchez told the media after his team beat Colorado 4-0 in the semis. It's a strangely tempered approach from a team that isn't afraid to celebrate its strength.
The reason? Recent history. LAFC has never beaten Wilfried Nancy's Columbus Crew. In the two games they've played against Nancy's Columbus LAFC has scored two goals, conceded seven and earned two red cards.
It's not exactly a record that inspires confidence. Signs point to LAFC flipping that script and getting a much-needed win against its bogey team. Since losing 5-1 to Columbus in July LAFC has experimented with a brand-new defensive lineup that could give it some fresh attacking ammunition.
It's moved from a back four to a back five, freeing up wingbacks Sergi Palencia and Ryan Hollingshead to charge down the flanks. Columbus has always struggled to defend fast-moving crosses in its own penalty box; in this new system, Palencia and Hollingshead are primed to deliver them in spades. The Man.
The Myth. The Mustache. Ryan Hollingshead puts us in the lead.
#SEAvLAFC 0-1 pic.twitter.com/27R0cKkBGq Will World Cup winner Olivier Giroud get his first American start? We've heard nothing but good things about how 37-year-old French striker Olivier Giroud is adjusting to life in Los Angeles.
"He's won everything there is to win at least, scored many goals in his career," LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo told the media. "He needs no advice from me, that's for sure. And he's looking sharper and sharper in training every day.
" Giroud has played a few minutes in the Leagues Cup as a substitute, but Sunday's final could be his first start in black and gold. He's competing with MLS legend Kei Kamara for the starting slot, but Kamara isn't giving it up without a fight: he scored a beautiful goal against Colorado in the semis to make his case to Cherundolo. Make it ✌️ Kei Kamara buries the cross from Ryan Hollingshead #LAFCvCOL | #LeaguesCup2024 pic.
twitter.com/HhQC0ZCw7T Which wingbacks will Columbus choose? While LAFC is busy empowering Palencia and Hollingshead, Columbus has a wingback dilemma of its own. Should it play new signing DeJuan Jones and breakout star Max Arfsten for more defensive rigidity? Or should it swap out Jones, move Arsten to the other side of the field and introduce the attacking flair of ex-futsal champion Mo Farsi? Columbus coach Wilfried Nancy opted for the former against the attacking threat of Inter Miami but chose the latter against NYCFC and Philadelphia.
His decision in the final could set the tone for Columbus's overall shape. Who will win the third place match on Saturday? The third-place match between the Philadelphia Union and the Colorado Rapids isn't a just a consolation fixture: it'll decide which of the two teams seals a spot in next year's CONCACAF Champions League. Philadelphia will have home field advantage in this one, but Colorado will enter the match with plenty of momentum and a ferocious underdog mentality.
It's hard to bet against Chris Armas's men. Shattered expectations #Rapids96 pic.twitter.
com/6DREiYFTZt The Leagues Cup final will kick off on Sunday at 7:15pm ET..
