COLUMBUS, Ohio – Columbus Crew secured a 2-1 victory over LAFC on Tuesday in the second leg of the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, USA.  

Despite the loss, Los Angeles FC won the series 4-2 on aggregate, advancing to the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of the Inter Miami CF vs. Cavalier FC matchup.

The Crew was relentless from the opening whistle as they faced a three-goal deficit due to their loss in the first leg.

Diego Rossi pulled off a brilliant individual play 10 minutes into the match and lobbed a ball up to Jacen Russel-Rowe, who headed home the opening strike.

At the end of a dominant first half, Rossi got on the scoresheet himself with a penalty kick in 45’ after an Eddie Segura handball in the box. 

Former FIFA World Cup champion Hugo Lloris was the star of the second half with multiple massive saves for LAFC. 

Max Arfsten had the best second half chance for Columbus in the 62’, but the French goalkeeper cleared it off the line. 

The Crew pushed hoping to level the series but Denis Bouanga broke free in the closing seconds and delivered the dagger in the 90'+6 to punch LAFC’s ticket to the next round.

With the series win, LAFC advances to the quarterfinals and will play the winner of the Inter Miami CF–Cavalier FC series.

Post-Match Data

Jacen Russell-Rowe’s goal in the 10th minute was the second-fastest goal by

Columbus Crew in the modern era of the Concacaf Champions Cup, trailing only

Eddie Gaven’s 5th-minute strike against Saprissa in 2009-10.

● Diego Rossi has scored six goals in the Concacaf Champions Cup, two for Los

Angeles FC and four for Columbus Crew, including against LAFC in this match. Only

five players have more goals in the Concacaf Champions Cup since Rossi made his

debut in the competition in 2020.

● Columbus Crew have lost only one of their 14 home matches in the modern era

of the Concacaf Champions Cup (W7 D6, since 2008), going unbeaten in the last 12

(W6 D6).

● Los Angeles FC has never been eliminated before the final in their three

appearances in the Concacaf Champions Cup, advancing in all eight ties between the

first round and the semi-final.

● Dénis Bouanga has been directly involved in 14 goals in 12 career matches in the

Concacaf Champions Cup (10 goals, 4 assists) including three against the Crew in the

round of 16 this year (3 goals). Bouanga has scored seven goals in six career away

matches in the competition.