Club America’s Victory in the Campeones Cup

Club America emerged victorious in a thrilling Campeones Cup final against Columbus Crew, winning a penalty shootout 5-4 after the match ended in a 1-1 draw at Lower.com Field on Wednesday night.

Néstor Araujo scored the decisive penalty, allowing Club America to lift the trophy for the first time. The match saw Victor Dávila give America the lead before Malte Amundsen equalized for the Crew.

Dávila dazzled on the field, scoring with a brilliant breakaway run, marking his notable debut after joining the team from CSKA Moscow just two weeks prior.

How the Penalty Shootout Unfolded

The shootout commenced with both teams trading successful penalties. However, Amundsen’s shot hit the crossbar after Club America goalkeeper Luis Malagon jumped off his line, a point of contention for the Crew.

“I know there’s a little gray area in the wording of the rules,” said Columbus forward Christian Ramirez. “So, my understanding is if he would’ve dove that way, then it would have been retaken, but because he dove the other way, it’s not. So, that’s the fine line of losing in penalties.”

Team Histories and Significance of the Match

This match marked the second appearance in a Campeones Cup final for both teams. America previously reached the final in 2019, where they lost to Atlanta United, while the Crew claimed the title in 2021.

The Campeones Cup, inaugurated in 2018, features an annual clash between the champions of Major League Soccer (MLS) and Mexico’s Liga MX.

As Club America celebrates this victory, they also boast back-to-back Liga MX titles for the Apertura and Clausura seasons.

The Crew, despite conceding the trophy, are the current defending MLS Cup champions and recently secured the Leagues Cup trophy, highlighting their competitive prowess.

As the match concluded, Crew coach Wilfried Nancy reflected on the performance: “Overall, I think we controlled ourselves and started to dictate the game. We grew into the game very well. So proud of the guys.”