Columbus Crew Makes History in Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinals

Even considering the 2022 triumph of the Seattle Sounders, the Columbus Crew accomplished arguably the most remarkable feat in the history of MLS teams in continental competition on Wednesday evening.

Columbus secured a 3-1 victory in the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals against CF Monterrey, following their quarterfinal win over Tigres UANL on penalties. This challenging path to the final, taking down two powerhouse Mexican teams, distinguishes the Crew’s achievement.

The reward for their exceptional performance is a looming clash against CF Pachuca in the one-off final, a rare and unique event in the modern era of the tournament.

Pachuca, having faced Costa Rica‘s Herediano in the quarterfinals, earned hosting rights for the final based on their superior record since the round of 16 kicked off.

Costa Rica’s league, once a contender in continental competitions, hasn’t produced semifinalists since 2015 or finalists since 2008. This puts into question the strength of Pachuca’s schedule compared to Columbus in the recent rounds of the tournament.

Despite Pachuca boasting slightly better records against MLS and Liga MX teams, the Crew’s performance against Mexican sides lends weight to their impressive resume.

The decision to have a one-game final was a compromise due to an expanded field this year, with 27 teams starting the knockout phase. A neutral site final wasn’t deemed feasible financially, and the debate over hosting rights remains contentious.

In the history of Concacaf finals, MLS teams have struggled to claim victory, especially on Mexican soil. However, the Crew’s resilient journey holds promise as they prepare to face Pachuca in this pivotal matchup.