How Columbus Crew reached MLS Cup for the second time in four seasons

Columbus Crew sealed qualification to their second MLS Cup in four seasons, and first-year head coach Wilfried Nancy has worked some magic to get the oldest team in the league back to the final.

The regular season was full of highs and lows for Columbus, including a third place finish which was their first trip to the playoffs since their triumphant 2020 campaign.

However, the Columbus fans were heartbroken when fan-favorite and club legend Lucas Zelarayan departed the team in the summer transfer window for Saudi Pro League side Al Fateh.

Diego Rossi, Zelarayan's replacement, got up to speed quickly in his second stint in MLS and ensured that the Crew wouldn't fall off as the second half of the campaign unfolded. Rossi, along with Cucho Hernandez, Aidan Morris, Darlington Nagbe and Patrick Schulte, propelled the team to the postseason with their consistent performances.

Here's how the Crew clinched a spot in this year's final:

First round: Atlanta United

It took the full three games, but Columbus just about got the better of Atlanta to reach the conference semifinals.

Game one saw the Crew go 2-0 up just before halftime thanks to a brace from Hernandez, and Atlanta were unable to mount anything going forward due to the Crew's impenetrable defense. The Crew held Atlanta to one shot for the duration of the contest. Yes, one shot over 90 minutes played.

Game two, however, was quite the opposite for both sides. The Five Stripes returned to Mercedes-Benz Stadium where they typically play their best in front of their supporters, and Gonzalo Pineda's side were ahead at halftime 2-1 before cruising to a 4-2 victory at full-time.

Atlanta were simply too much for Columbus to handle in game two, but that all changed once again when the teams squared off in game three at Lower.com Field. Thanks to Nagbe, Malte Amundse and Alexandru Matan, the Crew were 3-0 up inside the first 35 minutes with one foot in the door of the Eastern Conference semifinal.

After Rossi found the back of the net right after halftime, two quick-strikes from Newcomer of the Year Giorgos Giakoumakis and Xande Silva brough Atlanta within two as the score stood 4-2, but it was too little too late. Columbus held on to reach the next round against Orlando City.

Conference semifinal: Orlando City

The first round was already full of drama and back-and-forth moments for Columbus, and that theme continued in the second round against Orlando City.

Despite a few chances here and there, neither side were able to find a breakthrough in normal time, meaning extra time and potentially a penalty shootout. But Nancy's side made sure to settle things sooner, as substitute Christian Ramirez opened the scoring in the 93rd minute from close range.

Schulte came up clutch with a huge save similar to Emi Martinez's in the 2022 World Cup final, as the Crew's talisman Hernandez added a second goal in the 118th minute from the halfway line to kill the contest off. Orlando's Pedro Gallese was way off his line an attempt to put more bodies up the field for the Lions, but it backfired tremendously with Columbus triumphing 2-0.

Conference final: FC Cincinnati

There was plenty of chaos and late drama in the conference semifinal against Orlando. But apparently, Columbus just couldn't get enough of it, resulting in an instant classic in the newest installment of the 'Hell is Real' derby in the Eastern Conference final.

2023 Supporters' Shield champions FC Cincinnati went 2-0 up just before the break thanks to a strike from MVP winner Lucho Acosta, and Pat Noonan's side looked destined to reach MLS Cup for the first time in club history.

That is, until Ramirez came off the bench for Columbus and just about had an instant impact for the second consecutive game. A cross from fellow substitute Julian Gressel found the right foot of Ramirez, and his shot was turned in by Cincinnati's Alvas Powell to put the Crew on the board in the 75th minute.

Roughly 10 minutes later, Rossi leveled the game from about eight yards out, and all the momentum was with the visitors from that point on. Again, the Crew would be tasked with finding a winner in extra time on the road in the postseason.

Ramirez's headed effort in the 115th minute from a squared header from Hernandez put Columbus in front with one hand on the Eastern Conference title after an unreal sequence of events. It was deja vu for Columbus, winning in extra time once again thanks to Ramirez, while Cincinnati bowed out in one of the worst ways possible.

It's been an entertaining, enjoyable first year for the Crew under Nancy, and they'll look to add to their trophy cabinet (in regulation or extra time) at their home ground against the reigning champions LAFC.

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