Columbus Crew Humiliates LAFC

Who would've thought that the Columbus Crew, with their bold and determined style, would turn a clash of titans into a total humiliation? But that's exactly what happened last Saturday when the Crew not only defeated but steamrolled LAFC with a smashing 5-1 victory at BMO Stadium. Yep, you read that right. The team that had been undefeated at home for ten games just saw its invincibility crumble like a house of cards.

And it wasn't just a win; it was a statement. One of those you don't forget anytime soon. Because, my friends, being the MLS Cup champion and then rubbing it in your opponent's face that you're still the king, that's something else. Coach Wilfried Nancy couldn't be happier. "It was a very tough task, knowing the context and the situations, but my players found a way to be ourselves and play the way we wanted," he said with a smile that seemed to say, "I told you so."

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The trio that shined on the field deserves a special mention. Christian Ramírez, Diego Rossi, and the unstoppable Cucho Hernández were the stars of this epic story. Ramírez, with his two goals, showed he's in great shape. Rossi, scoring against his former team, had that sweet taste of revenge. And Cucho, oh Cucho... He scored a breathtaking goal, one of those you see in slow motion in your head for days. With this performance, he joins the greats of Columbus Crew, like Jeff Cunningham and Stern John, becoming one of the few to achieve at least 20 goal contributions in consecutive seasons.

Both Nancy and LAFC's Steve Cherundolo are in the running for the US men's national team coaching job. And let's be real, Saturday's result made it clear who's more ready for that challenge. Nancy avoided talking about the rumors. "I don't talk about rumors, plain and simple," he said.

The rivalry between Columbus Crew and LAFC is only growing, and Saturday's game was proof of that. There was no trophy on the line, but the intensity was palpable. Cucho captured that feeling well: "We knew it would be a tough game. The [MLS Cup] final wasn't that long ago, and you could feel it tonight. I think we felt the rivalry."