The Columbus Crew marched on in their Leagues Cup 2024 campaign with a commanding 3-1 result over the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday at Lower.com Field in Columbus. The win not only sent them to the final but also ensured their qualification for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup.
The hero of the night was Diego Rossi, who would record a brace in the first half to put the Crew ahead. Those goals were vital, putting the Crew in front early and then restoring the lead after Philadelphia briefly equalized. That sealed the game and added flair to the Crew’s performance.
Early Running for Columbus
The game started with the initiative taken by Columbus. It was in the 12th minute when Diego Rossi scored the first goal with a beautiful diving head. Andre Blake of Philadelphia bailed from Cucho Hernandez’s shot, and Rossi didn’t think twice to finish off the rebound for a lead that moved the Crew to a good start. The early goal by Rossi set the tone for the evening.
Philadelphia was able to level, however, when Daniel Gazdag found the back of the net. Minutes before Rossi’s second goal, Gazdag took advantage of a defensive error on Columbus’ part. He collected a loose ball efficiently and then passed the remaining defenders to make his way to the goal and tuck that ball inside the net. It became a moment of hope for the Union to build on further from that moment.