Columbus Crew wins Campeones Cup with 2-0 win over Cruz Azul

The Columbus Crew have earned continental silverware for the primary time inside the club's storied history, winning the Campeones Cup with a 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul on Wednesday night time at Lower.Com Field. Jonathan Mensah's 74th-minute header sealed Columbus' victory after Lucas Zelarayan's tantalizing free-kick led to a very own purpose that positioned the Crew in front on 4 minutes, dispatching their Liga MX foe.

Columbus turns into the second consecutive MLS team to win the four-12 months-old trophy after Atlanta United defeated Club America three-2 in 2019. The trophy among the defending MLS Cup champion and Mexico's defending Campeon de Campeones winner become no longer contested in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cruz Azul hoarded the ball and held 74% of possession, however, struggled to create consistent probabilities. Their first-class stretch got here in the opening mins of the second one-half of while Jonathan Rodriguez fired nicely over the crossbar on an extensive-open appearance in the 47th minute and Juan Escobar struck the right submit five mins later.

In the dying moments, the partisan Columbus crowd reminded the Mexico City-primarily based side of other American victories over Mexican opponents inside the Ohio capital, with a "dos-a-cero!" chant ringing out from the Nordecke in the back of the north intention.

Cruz Azul’s top attacking participant Jonathan Rodriguez had a danger to tie the sport within the 47th minute directly in the front of the purpose but shot it over the bar. Right-back Juan Escobar placed a good-perspective shot off the post in the 52nd minute. 

Though Cruz Azul didn’t play its top group for the full sport, their attacking intensity might be among the first-class — if now not the first-rate — in MLS, and the Crew held firm like they did ultimate season close to intention. The Crew had forty clearances in the match, withstanding 34 crosses 

After the final whistle, Crew gamers swarmed every different in front of the Nordecke supporters’ section. There hadn’t been a whole lot to cheer for approximately thru a grueling summertime of eight losses in nine video games. 

MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Mensah's intention, installation through a fabulous ball at the destroy from left fullback Milton Valenzuela, got here against the run of play. At the equal time, it was well-deserved given the consolation stage Columbus had in handling Cruz Azul's attempts to pile on the strain as the second half progressed.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Darlington Nagbe. The midfielder becomes at his absolute nice as a pressure launch valve, completing over 95% of his passes and winning the overpowering majority of his 10 contested duels.