The stage is set for the Leagues Cup final, pitting Columbus Crew against LAFC in a repeat of last year’s MLS Cup final.

Both Columbus and LAFC emerged victorious in their Leagues Cup semifinal matches on Wednesday evening, securing their spots in the tournament final scheduled for Sunday at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio.

Columbus made it through with Diego Rossi scoring his third brace of the Leagues Cup. Cucho Hernandez also contributed with a goal in the Crew’s 3-1 triumph over the Philadelphia Union.

On the other side, LAFC cruised to a dominant 4-0 win against the Colorado Rapids, featuring goals from Mateusz Bogusz (42’), Kei Kamara (45’), Dénis Bouanga (59’), and Lewis O’Brien (75’). Olivier Giroud, the celebrated striker from France, made his third appearance for LAFC as a substitute.

The Philadelphia Union and Colorado Rapids will go head-to-head for third place in the Leagues Cup on Sunday. Last year, Philadelphia claimed third place.

Teams that finish as finalists and the third-place winner will also gain entries into the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup tournament.

The Crew is aiming for its third final in a year, hoping to secure its second trophy: after winning the MLS Cup by defeating LAFC 2-1 last year, they fell to LIGA MX’s Pachuca in the Concacaf Champions Cup final this year.

However, defeating LAFC three times in a row could prove challenging for Columbus. The Crew previously claimed victory over LAFC with a 5-1 scoreline in a July 13 game, which adds pressure for the upcoming Leagues Cup final.

While the Leagues Cup concludes this Sunday, the regular MLS season will resume with twelve matches on Saturday, intensifying the battle for playoff spots in 2024.

Final: LAFC 4, Colorado Rapids 0 in Leagues Cup Semifinal

LAFC secured their place in the Leagues Cup final by defeating the Colorado Rapids 4-0, with goals from Mateusz Bogusz (42’), Kei Kamara (45’), Dénis Bouanga (59’), and Lewis O’Brien (75’).

Lewis O’Brien’s Goal: LAFC 4, Colorado Rapids 0

In the 75th minute, Lewis O’Brien scored for LAFC, adding to their lead with a right-foot shot that slipped into the net.

Dénis Bouanga’s Goal: LAFC 3, Colorado Rapids 0

Dénis Bouanga showcased his skill by dribbling past Olivier Giroud to score, extending LAFC’s lead to 3-0 in the 59th minute.

Olivier Giroud Joins LAFC

Olivier Giroud made his third appearance for LAFC, coming on as a substitute in the second half.

Kei Kamara’s Goal: LAFC 2, Colorado Rapids 0

LAFC quickly doubled their advantage when Kei Kamara found the net in the 45th minute, leaving the score at 2-0 as halftime approached.

If the results hold, LAFC will face Columbus in the Leagues Cup final this Sunday. Columbus had bested LAFC in last year’s MLS Cup final.

Mateusz Bogusz’s Goal: LAFC 1, Colorado Rapids 0

Mateusz Bogusz kicked off the scoring for LAFC with a goal in the 42nd minute, giving them an early 1-0 advantage against the Colorado Rapids in their semifinal match.

Zack Steffen’s Saves: LAFC 0, Colorado Rapids 0

In the third minute, LAFC’s Dénis Bouanga and Kei Kamara pressured the Rapids’ defense, but goalkeeper Zack Steffen made two impressive saves to keep the game scoreless.

Viewing Options for LAFC vs. Colorado Rapids in Leagues Cup

The semifinal match between LAFC and the Colorado Rapids at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles will kick off at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local time) and will be available for live streaming on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Final Result: Columbus Crew Defeats Philadelphia Union 3-1 in Leagues Cup Semifinal

Diego Rossi netted two goals, while Cucho Hernandez added one more as Columbus Crew triumphed over Philadelphia Union 3-1 on Wednesday, securing their spot in the Leagues Cup final.

The Crew is heading to their third final in just a year and awaits the winner of the LAFC vs. Colorado Rapids match.

Columbus aims to claim their second title: they won the MLS Cup in 2023 but lost to Pachuca in the Concacaf Champions Cup final earlier this year.

Cucho Hernandez’s Goal: Columbus Crew 3-1 vs. Philadelphia Union

Cucho Hernandez extended the Crew’s lead to 3-1 when he scored a follow-up goal in the 53rd minute after his own header was saved.

Diego Rossi’s Second Goal: Columbus Crew 2-1 vs. Philadelphia Union

Diego Rossi scored again in the 42nd minute, bringing his total to six goals in the Leagues Cup, guiding the Crew to a 2-1 advantage just before halftime, marking his third brace in the tournament.

Dániel Gazdag’s Goal: Philadelphia Union 1-1 vs. Columbus Crew

The Union equalized when Dániel Gazdag scored in the 32nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by the Crew.

Diego Rossi Scores First Goal: Columbus Crew 1-0 vs. Philadelphia Union

Diego Rossi opened the scoring for the Crew in the 12th minute with a header, giving Columbus an early 1-0 lead against Philadelphia, following a shot from Cucho Hernandez.

How to Watch Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union in Leagues Cup

The semifinal match of the Cup featuring the Columbus Crew and the Philadelphia Union will take place at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. It will be broadcasted live on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

When will the Leagues Cup final be held?

The final of the Leagues Cup, along with the third-place match, is scheduled for Sunday, August 25.

Leagues Cup betting odds

∎ Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union bets: Columbus (-225); Draw (+340); Philadelphia (+425) as per BETMGM.

∎ LAFC vs. Colorado Rapids bets: LAFC (-225); Draw (+333); Colorado Rapids (+450) per BETMGM.

Prediction for the Leagues Cup final: Columbus Crew vs. LAFC

It would be quite appropriate for the Columbus Crew to face LAFC in the Leagues Cup final, especially after the Crew triumphed over LAFC with a score of 2-1 in last season’s MLS Cup. This would serve as an exciting rematch and could impact the current MLS playoff landscape.

When does the MLS regular season for 2024 start up again?

The majority of the 29 MLS teams will resume their regular season on Saturday, August 24, featuring 12 matches (available for streaming on MLS Season Pass).

• Minnesota United vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 6:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
• Charlotte FC vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET
• D.C. United vs. FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Inter Miami CF vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. ET
• CF Montréal vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET
• New York City FC vs. Chicago Fire FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Houston Dynamo FC vs. Toronto FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Sporting Kansas City vs. Orlando City SC, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Nashville SC vs. Austin FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Real Salt Lake vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 9:30 p.m. ET
• LA Galaxy vs. Atlanta United, 10:30 p.m. ET
• Portland Timbers vs. St. Louis City SC, 10:30 p.m. ET