By Tony Álvarez
Columbus Crew sealed a 3-2 win in the penalty shootout over Pumas, after a 1-1 draw in regulation, on Tuesday at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Ohio. The result keeps the MLS side in contention to advance, depending on other results.
Things started off as the home side hoped. The Crew found themselves up a goal in the ninth minute after a corner kick was awarded. Brais Méndez delivered the cross for Tarun Karumanchi, who headed the ball past Keylor Navas to open the scoring.
Columbus had another opportunity to get a goal in the 41st minute, when Malte Amundsen delivered a cross to Mohamed Farsi, who shot wide of the post.
Just four minutes later, Uriel Antuna dribbled past two defenders on the right side of the box and delivered a cross that Álvaro Angulo finished with his right foot to beat Nicholas Hagen to make it 1-1 in the 45th minute.
In the 73rd minute, Pumas UNAM were reduced to ten men as Luciano Herrera was shown a red card.
Despite having a man advantage, Columbus Crew could not find the second before the final whistle, and penalty kicks were required to determine a winner.
Pumas’ goalkeeper Keylor Navas started the shootout for his team as a scorer, converting the opening kick before returning to his usual position in goal.
Guillermo Martínez missed his attempt in the second round of kicks. Navas made a save to deny Taha Habroune and keep things level.
After Pedro Vite and Lautaro Giaccone converted their attempts in the third round, Nicholas Hagen denied Rodrigo López before Rudy Camacho converted for the Crew. Nathan Silva shot the ball over the bar for a 3-2 score in the shootout.
Columbus now awaits the remaining Phase One results to see if their eight points are enough to advance to the quarterfinals.
REACTIONS
- Columbus Head Coach Laurent Courtois
- “Proud of the performance, proud of the tournament, proud of how they carry themselves after some questionable situations and the way the reacted in scenarios, we don’t know what will happen next, but it is a successful tournament.”
- Pumas Head Coach Esteban Solari
- “A draw that leaves us with the feeling that we improved as the tournament went on. We struggled to adapt in the first match, but in the second—despite the loss—we showed a completely different side of ourselves.”
PLAYERS OF THE MATCH
- Columbus
- Nicholas Hagen delivered two saves during regulation and came up with the decisive save in the penalty shootout, stopping Rodrigo López’s attempt to help Columbus secure the victory.
GAME NOTES
- The result places the Columbus Crew among the top four MLS sides in the Phase One standings, awaiting results
- Nicholas Hagen saved a crucial penalty kick to help his team
- Tarun Karumanchi scored his first goal with the Crew first team
- Álvaro Angulo scored his second goal in the Leagues Cup. His only other goal came in the 2025 edition.
- Pumas allowed six goals and scored one in three Leagues Cup matches.
CARDS/INJURY REPORT
- Yellow Cards:
- Columbus: Rudy Camacho (61’)
- Pumas: Adalberto Carrasquilla (12’), Álvaro Angulo (37’), Rubén Duarte (76’), Pedro Vitte (90’+8’)
LOOKING AHEAD
- Columbus returns to MLS play in a August 15th matchup vs Charlotte.
- Pumas is back to Liga MX where they play Querérato on August 16th.
