If there was any place outside of Mexico that Club America could have wanted to play, it would be right here in Los Angeles. The gigantic fan turnout proves it. It’s 99% Club America crowd. Basically a home match for America. Columbus have a riled up crowd against them.
Columbus is the last hope for the MLS for progress in this tournament. The quarterfinals haven’t been kind to MLS squad, as Chicago, Austin and Real Salt Lake have been eliminated prior to the start of this match.
The energy is electric in the stadium. Club America in their signature yellow jerseys, Columbus in the black and fluorescent green. As loud as I have heard it here at Dignity Health Sports Park. A sea of yellow. Some empty seats at the start, due to crazy traffic outside the stadium.
America doesn’t waste any time creating offense and in the 11th minute they create a full field drive, that starts with their goalie and a deep cross to the final third and Raphael Cavalcante pops a rocket to the far post and hits the post and goes into the goal. Fantastic strike for a 1-0 America lead.
Schulte had little chance. Just a supremely placed shot that only had the far post in the way, in this case, the post helped out. Columbus has their backs against the wall now. A rowdy crowd and a fierce America. The Crew need to answer, or this can get out of hand early for them.
America isn’t letting up, they are pushing strong. Patrick Schulte is on his game tonight. Two spectacular saves in dangerous one-on-one situations. Second one he goes low and slaps the ball away as it was about to be flipped over his head.
You make stops and you get rewarded. That’s the case in the 37th minute, when a cross in the box was knocked down by Cristian Borja. Clear penalty, arm extended backwards and the ball trajectory died as it hit the arm. After a very quick VAR check. It’s indeed a penalty.
Portela Brais Mendez steps up to take the kick. He lines a weak and low hit grounder that gets knocked away out of bounds by goalie Cota Rodolfo. Poor kick. Rodolfo guessed right also. A huge chance to tie the game goes wasted by Columbus. You have to wonder if they will get another chance like this to get on the board.
Final seconds before extra time, newly acquired Josef Martinez gets a header on the ball and it gets swatted away by Rodolfo. Good header, even better reaction save. Rodolfo has been the man of the match in the first half.
In the dying seconds of the first half, Club America strikes again. Some nifty footwork and dribbles from Paul Rodriguez who gets around three Crew defenders and lets a shot go on goal and right past Schulte. Backbreaking goal from Columbus. On the final seconds of the half.
Halftime looks a lot more daunting for the Crew and America is in control of this game now. Columbus will need a goal early into the second half to have a shot in this one.
America is looking more organized defensively in the second half. The Crew can’t seem to get a good shot off on goal. They are being swarmed to the ball and all openings appear closed off. On the other hand Club America are finding holes in the Crew defense.
Crew couldn’t muster together enough to get a goal to get themselves back into the game. This was America’s game from very early on. Columbus had their chances in the first half, but failed to capitalize. That missed PK seemed like it spelled doom for them. Any momentum they had was evaporated. The goal by America in the final seconds of the first half seemed like an insurmountable obstacle to overcome.
America moves on the the semi-finals, Columbus is out. 2-0 is the score. That means four Liga MX teams are now vying for the 2026 Leagues Cup. Disappointing to see all four MLS teams get knocked out in the quarterfinals and not even advance to a semis match. America looks to be a favorite to collect the trophy. It appears they will be back in LA for a semis match, which they will be favored in.
It just felt to me, aside from Chicago, the three other MLS teams that made the knockout stages lacked any sort of firepower. All three of those clubs, Columbus, Salt Lake and Austin are middle of the table clubs. None of them seemed as favorites in their matchups. Chicago had the best chance at home and didn’t get it done. I do wonder what a team like LAFC would have done, as they nearly missed out on the quarterfinals.
Up Next:
The final four is set. Club America will take on Monterrey. Leon will take on Toluca. Some appetizing matchups. I don’t see why America wouldn’t run it back in Carson again, especially of this homecoming welcome tonight.
Player of the Match:
Brian Rodriguez was electric. One goal and one assist. He was a threat at all times during the game, but on this night he wasn’t even the man of the match. That honor would go to America goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota. He was phenomenal. Clean sheet. Saved about three goals easily. Without him this game goes completely different.