Forward Cucho Hernández named MLS Cup MVP presented by Audi after scoring the opening goal of the match
COLUMBUS, OHIO (Saturday, December 9, 2023) – The Columbus Crew won the third MLS Cup presented by Audi in club history after defeating the Los Angeles Football Club, 2-1, at Lower.com Field. Columbus became the third club in league history to win MLS Cup at least three different times and it marked their second championship trophy in the past four seasons (2020). Cucho Hernández was named the 2023 MLS Cup MVP presented by Audi after scoring the opening goal of the match in the 33rd minute, his fifth of the postseason, which tied for the most in MLS during the playoffs. With the victory, Crew midfielder and captain Darlington Nagbe won his fourth MLS Cup (2015, 2018, 2020, 2023), becoming just the 10th player in league history to win four-or-more MLS Cups.
2023 MLS CUP PRESENTED BY AUDI MEDIA ASSETS
Video Assets
Photo Assets
- 2023 MLS Cup presented by Audi photos (HERE)
Quote Sheets
- LAFC Head Coach Steve Cherundolo (HERE)
- Columbus Crew Head Coach Wilfried Nancy (HERE)
- Select player quotes (HERE)
GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
CLB – Hernández, 33’ (PK)
CLB – Yeboah (Amundsen), 37’
LAFC – Bouanga, 74’
Attendance: 20,802 (Lower.com Field record)
Columbus emerged victorious with a 2-1 victory in front of a Lower.com Field-record 20,802 fans, which included two goals in the opening 37 minutes. The Crew opened the scoring after LAFC committed a handball inside the 18-yard-box in the 31st minute. Hernández stepped up to the spot and converted, marking his second goal from the penalty spot in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs (Watch Here). In the 37th minute, defender Malte Amundsen played a spectacular pass to midfielder Yaw Yeboah, who poked his effort past the diving LAFC goalkeeper for a 2-0 advantage (Watch Here).
Despite a late goal from LAFC’s Dénis Bouanga in the 74th minute (Watch Here), the Crew managed to hold on to earn their third MLS Cup presented by Audi in club history. Thanks to his opening goal, Hernández was named 2023 MLS Cup MVP presented by Audi, becoming the first Colombian-born player to earn the honor. With the victory, the Crew reached 82 goals in both the regular season and postseason, which was the most by a club in MLS history that went on to win MLS Cup.
Game Notes
- By winning MLS Cup, the Crew joined the LA Galaxy (five) and D.C. United (four) as the only clubs in league history to win at least three different MLS Cups (2008, 2020, 2023). The Crew are the first team to win two MLS Cups in a four-year span since Seattle Sounders FC did so in 2016 and 2019.
- With two goals in the victory, the Columbus Crew reached 82 goals in 2023 between the MLS regular season (67) and postseason (15). The 82 goals were the most by an MLS Cup champion in league history and tied for the fourth-most all-time.
- The Crew won five different times in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs (excluding penalty-kick shootouts), becoming the first team in the last 20 years to win five-or-more games in a single postseason. Columbus won each match with goal-scoring, recording at least two goals in each of their postseason games.
- Club captain and midfielder Darlington Nagbe hoisted the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy after finishing the match with a game-high 96.3% passing accuracy. Nagbe won his fourth different MLS Cup (2015 with Portland Timbers, 2018 with Atlanta United, and 2020 and 2023 with Columbus Crew), becoming the 10th player in league history and the only active one to achieve this feat. Nagbe is currently one of five players all-time to win MLS Cup with at least three different teams – Portland, Atlanta, and Columbus.
- Columbus’ Cucho Hernández opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute of the match. With the goal, Hernández became the third player in MLS history to score or assist in each of his first six postseason matches, joining Carlos Ruiz (eight) and Raúl Ruidíaz (seven).
- After scoring the opening goal of the match, Hernández was named the 2023 MLS Cup MVP presented by Audi. Hernández became the first Colombian-born player to be named MLS Cup MVP and the third Crew player born in South America to receive the honor – Lucas Zelarayán (Argentina, 2020) and Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Argentina, 2008).
- At 22 years and 23 days old today, Crew midfielder Aidan Morris became the third-youngest player in league history to start two MLS Cups. The two previous youngest players were DaMarcus Beasley (21 years, 183 days) and Landon Donovan (21 years, 264 days).
- Head coach Wilfried Nancy won his first MLS Cup presented by Audi in his debut season with the Columbus Crew. Over the past two seasons, Nancy has won 42 games across both the regular season and postseason, which is the most by any coach in MLS during that span. Nancy is the second consecutive coach to win MLS Cup presented by Audi in his first season with the club (LAFC’s Steve Cherundolo).
- By scoring in the 74th minute, LAFC’s Dénis Bouanga recorded his 38th goal in all competitions of the 2023 season. Bouanga’s 38 goals tied teammate Carlos Vela for the most in all competitions in a single season in league history, with Vela doing so in 2019. Bouanga and Columbus’ Cucho Hernández led all players with five goals during the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.
- Two Crew players appeared in both their 2023 MLS Cup victory and 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Cup victory – goalkeeper Patrick Schulte and defender Sean Zawadzki. As a whole, the Crew had six different players who saw action in at least five 2023 MLS regular season matches and also appeared in MLS NEXT Pro in 2022.
- Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte made four saves in the match, which was the most by a winning Crew ‘keeper in a single MLS Cup. At 22 years and 271 days old, Schulte became the youngest goalkeeper to start and win an MLS Cup presented by Audi. Schulte is also the only goalkeeper in league history to win an MLS Cup (2023) and MLS NEXT Pro Cup (2022).
- The Crew scored two goals in the opening 37 minutes of the match, which was the fastest two goals scored in an MLS Cup since Columbus did so in 2020 (first 31 minutes).
About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer – celebrating its 28th season in 2023 – features 30 clubs throughout the United States and Canada, including a new expansion team in San Diego that will debut in 2025. All MLS, Leagues Cup, and select MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches can be watched through MLS Season Pass, available on the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, and the web at tv.apple.com. MLS Season Pass will feature the most expansive and accessible lineup of programming ever for MLS fans. For more information about MLS, visit mlssoccer.com. For more information about the Apple TV app, visit apple.com/apple-tv-app
