Columbus Crew lose Campeones Cup, falling to Club America 5-4 ...

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Columbus Crew stadium: lower.com Field in downtown Columbus, Ohio

Drone views of Columbus Crew stadium: Lower.com Field in downtown Columbus, Ohio

It was Crew defender Malte Amundsen who scored the goal to tie the Campeones Cup match 1-1 in the second half, a score that would hold through regulation and send the Crew to penalty kicks against Club America. It was also Amundsen who missed Columbus' final penalty kick, allowing Club America to defeat the Crew 5-4 for the Campeones Cup trophy.

Club America came into the title match against Columbus with a powerful defense and a loud fanbase, which made its presence felt in the crowd at Lower.com Field on Wednesday.

After both clubs went scoreless in the first half, Club America got on the board thanks to second-half substitution Victor Davila's goal in the 68th minute. Amundsen, who had yet to score a goal this season, kept the game alive when he found the back of the net for Columbus off a corner kick from Diego Rossi.

When the official blew the final whistle in regulation and the score was still tied 1-1, it meant the Campeones Cup was going to penalty kicks for the second year in a row.

The Crew and Club America were tit for tat through the first six penalty kicks.

Rudy Camacho hit the first shot for Columbus, and Diego Valdes made the first attempt for Club America. Club America goalkeeper Luis Malagon recorded a save on the second Crew attempt, followed by Patrick Schulte recording a save on the second Club America attempt.

Both Malagon and Schulte recorded saves on the sixth attempt from the opposing club, and the score was tied 4-4. That's when Amundsen missed his attempt by hitting the crossbar.

Nestor Araujo was good on the final attempt for Club America, giving his club their first Campeones Cup trophy.

After being tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, the Crew vs Club America is going to a penalty kick shootout.

• Crew first penalty kick attempt: Made by Rudy Camacho, Crew lead 1-0
• Club America first penalty kick attempt: Made by Diego Valdes, tied 1-1
• Crew second penalty kick attempt: Missed by Alex Matan, tied 1-1
• Club America second penalty kick attempt: Missed by Richard Sanches, tied 1-1
• Crew third penalty kick attempt: Made by Jacen Russell-Rowe, Crew lead 2-1
• Club America third penalty kick attempt: Made by Rodrigo Aguirre, tied 2-2
• Crew fourth penalty kick attempt: Made by Cucho Hernandez, Crew lead 3-2
• Club America fourth penalty kick attempt: Made by Alvaro Fidalgo, tied 3-3
• Crew fifth penalty kick attempt: Made by DeJuan Jones, Crew lead 4-3
• Club America fifth penalty kick attempt: Made by Victor Davila, tied 4-4
• Crew sixth penalty kick attempt: Missed by Aziel Jackson, tied 4-4
• Club America sixth penalty kick attempt: Missed by Ramon Juarez, tied 4-4
• Crew seventh penalty kick attempt: Missed by Malte Amundsen, tied 4-4
• Club America seventh penalty kick attempt: Made by Nestor Araujo, Club America wins 5-4

After the Crew failed to capitalize on one last corner kick, Columbus is tied 1-1 with Club America at the end of regulation, sending the Campeones Cup to penalty kicks.

The Crew are 2-0 this season in penalty kick shootouts. The Crew defeated Tigres 4-3 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals and defeated New York City FC 4-3 in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals. Patrick Schulte was in goal for both shootouts

The Crew made three more substitutions, putting their total at five:

• Forward Aziel Jackson replaces Diego Rossi
• Midfielder DeJuan Jones replaces Max Arfsten
• Midfielder Andres Herrera replaces Mo Farsi

Following the Crew's goal, there were multiple substitutions made by Columbus and Club America.

Columbus substitutions:

• Forward Jacen Russell-Rowe replaces Christian Ramirez
• Midfielder Alex Matan replaces Sean Zawadzki

Club America subtititutions:

• Midfielder Richard Sanchez replaces Jonathan Do Santos
• Midfielder Javario Dilrosun replaces Cristian Calderon

Defender Malte Amundsen scored the first goal of the Campeones Cup for the Crew, scoring off a corner kick to tie the match 1-1 against Club America.

Diego Rossi executed the corner kick from the right side of the field for Columbus. After forward Christian Ramirez failed to score on an attempted header shot, Amundsen found the ball on the left side of Club America's box and kicked the ball awkwardly with the side of his right leg, sending it past goalkeeper Luis Malagon.

The Campeones Cup match at Lower.com Field between the Crew and Club America was announced as a sellout, with 20,198 in attendance on Wednesday night.

Taking a diving header shot, forward Diego Rossi sent the ball too far right, missing the goal and putting the ball out of bounds.

Club America take a 1-0 advantage in the Campeones Cup with a goal from forward and second half substitution Victor Davila.

Davila was in control of the ball, running along up-field with just goalkeeper Patrick Schulte. Though Crew defender Steven Moreira caught up to Davila from the left side of the field, and attempted to contest the shot alongside a diving Schulte, Davila sent the ball past both players to take the lead.

With its first round of substitutions, Club America made three changes:

• Forward Victor Davila replaces Brian Rodriguez
• Forward Diego Valdes replaces Alejandro Zendejas
• Forward Rodrigo Aguirre replaces Henry Martin

From the top of Club America's box, forward Christian Ramirez launched a shot attempt. Goalkeeper Luis Malagon hit Ramirez's shot away from a save.

The Crew were able to hold Club America scoreless in the first half, despite allowing their opponent to take make shots in the first half:

• Shots: Crew (3), Club America (6)
• Shots on goal: Crew (1), Club America (2)
• Fouls: Crew (9), Club America (4)

Off a long, up-field pass from striker Cucho Hernandez, forward Diego Rossi received the ball in front of Club America's goal and was able to create a header shot attempt. Rossi's shot went high, right but goalkeeper Luis Malagon hit the ball away from the goal.

The Crew were granted a corner kick when it was ruled Club American was the last to touch the ball following midfielder Max Arfsten's shot attempt. Forward Diego Rossi took the corner for Columbus, and striker Cucho Hernandez was able to find the ball in the air for a header shot attempt.

Hernandez's header bounced in front of Club America's goal but was too powerful, going inches over the crossbar.

Midfielder Sean Zawadzki earned a yellow card for a foul against Club America's forward Alejandro Zendejas. Zawadzki committed the yellow card violation while attempting a tackle.

Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte was able to record his first save of the match against Club America with ease, scooping up a shot attempt from Club America forward Brian Rodriguez that came straight to Schulte in the middle of the goal.

After nearly two minutes of medical attention following the Crew corner kick, midfielder Sean Zawadzki was able to re-enter the match for Columbus. While Zawadzki was receiving treatment for seemingly an abdomen injury, the Crew were down a player on the field.

With the first corner kick of the Campeones Cup, Crew forward Diego Rossi executed the attempt and sent the ball into Club America's box. After the kick was cleared out of the box by Club America, Crew midfielder Sean Zawadzki went down, holding his abdomen and required medical attention.

Here is the starting 11 for Club America vs Columbus:

• GK: Luis Malagon
• DF: Nestor Araujo
• DF: Cristian Borja
• DF: Ramon Juarez
• MF: Cristian Calderon
• MF: Jonathan Dos Santos
• MF: Dagoberto Espinoza
• MF: Alvaro Fidalgo
• FW: Henry Martin
• FW: Brian Rodriguez
• FW: Alejandro Zendejas

Here is the starting 11 for Columbus vs Club America:

• GK: Patrick Schulte
• DF: Malte Amundsen
• DF: Rudy Camacho
• DF: Steven Moreira
• MF: Max Arfsten
• MF: Mo Farsi
• MF: Darlington Nagbe
• MF: Sean Zawadzki
• FW: Cucho Hernandez
• FW: Christian Ramirez
• FW: Diego Rossi

There have been five Campeones Cups played since its origination in 2018:

• 2018: Tigres defeated Toronto FC (3-1)
• 2019: Atlanta United defeated Club America (3-2)
• 2021: Columbus Crew defeated CF Cruz Azul (2-0)
• 2022: New York City FC defeated Atlas FC (2-0)
• 2023: Tigres defeated Los Angeles FC (4-2, PKs)

The Crew vs. Club America Campeones Cup English-speaking radio broadcast will be on Alt 105.7 FM and available via the iHeartRadio app. Columbus' regular radio broadcaster Chris Doran will be on the call.

The Spanish radio broadcast can be found on La Grande 102.5 FM and the La Grande radio app with Juan Valladares doing play-by-play.

The Crew-Club America Campeones Cup match will be available on Apple TV+ with a required MLS Season Pass subscription. Here are the broadcast teams for tonight:

• English broadcast: Jake Zivin (play-by-play), Taylor Twellman (analyst)
• Spanish broadcast: Sammy Sadnovik (play-by-play), Diego Valeri (analyst)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Lower.com Field.

bmackay@dispatch.com

@brimackay15

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