The Columbus Crew travel to take on Los Angeles FC in a 2023 MLS Cup rematch, this time in La La Land instead of Columbus, Ohio. Both teams enter in good form, the Crew having won four matches in a row and sporting eight wins and two losses in the last 10 MLS games. LAFC on the other hand have won nine of their last 10 MLS matches, their only blemish was a draw against Austin FC. In the regular season matches against LAFC the Crew lost each game and have not scored a goal. The 2023 MLS Cup Final saw Columbus not just win, but record their first goal against the West Coast black and gold competitors. 

Forward Jacen Russell-Rowe will miss one more match due to international duty as Canada looks to claim third place in the Copa America. Goalkeeper Evan Bush remains sidelined due to an injury set back as he works his way back from an arm injury. 

Here is how the original Black & Gold could line up:

Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte will start this match, his final before heading to Paris as part of the men’s Olympic team. Due to Bush’s injury, the limited call-ups reserve players are allowed create a real issue for head coach Wilfried Nancy.

The Crew boss said that when he was a youth player he could be on the bench for 15 matches before having to sign a first team contract. With no back-up keeper behind goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen, who has Nancy’s confidence? Reserve goalkeeper Stas Lapkes will make a couple match-day rosters after Schulte departs for the Olympics immediately after the LAFC match.

Defender Steven Moreira was able to frustrate and keep LAFC danger man, forward Denis Bouanga, relatively quiet in the MLS Cup. Defender Rudy Camacho will have a new challenge as he takes on former teammate and MLS journeyman, forward Kei Kamara. Kamara and Camacho played together under Nancy in Montreal. The addition of Kamara adds a unique challenge in defending against one of the greatest aerial threats in MLS history. Barring a late scratch Camacho and Moreira are inked in pen starters against LAFC, the only real question mark is at left center back. Defender Malte Amundsen delivered the game winning assist in the MLS Cup Final, but has been rotating consistently with defender Yehven Cheberko, this could be one of the rotated matches.

Moreira was not alone in defending against Bouanga, wingback Mo Farsi supported well. Farsi will get the opportunity to frustrate the LA attacker once again in this match. Opposite Farsi will be wingback Max Arfsten, Arfsten has been a midseason revelation for the Crew and had his most difficult assignment against Toronto’s winger Fernando Bernardeschi. Arfsten will get to prove himself against a better overall opponent. Wingback Yaw Yeboah will likely make a substitute appearance but looks to be losing his grip on the starting position to Arfsten. 

The only player Columbus is not returning from the starting lineup from the MLS Cup is midfielder Aidan Morris. Morris transferred to English Championship side Middlesbrough, a team Kei Kamara played at. Midfielder, defender, and generally useful player anywhere, Sean Zawadzki slots in for the departed Morris to continue the tradition of Homegrown midfielders. Playing alongside Zawadzki is midfielder, captain, and fellow Ohioan Darlington Nagbe. 

The attacking trio of forwards Cucho Hernandez, Christian Ramirez, and Diego Rossi has proven extremely effective over the last four games. In that span, Hernandez has five goals and five assists, Rossi has three goals and five assists and finally Ramirez has three goals and three assists. This front three has 24 goal contributions and is in red hot form over those for games, all of which Columbus have won.

Midfielder Alex Matan did start against LAFC in the MLS Cup Final, and Nancy credits Matan’s off ball movement as the reason Yeboah was able to receive that pass that ultimately led to the game winning goal. Matan also started the last match alongside Nagbe in the midfield, Nancy certainly wants to keep the Romanian involved in the team.