The Crew were saved for moments just like this as LA look to win consecutive titles.
First foul at 25 seconds. Crew on a run, stolen away by Acosta. As expected a fast paced game, very disjointed at the beginning. Rossi taken down from behind, Crew want a card of course but, nope. Palacios got away with one, no doubt. The record between these teams is interesting, 3 games, 3 wins for LA, with 7 goals. None for the home team. Rossi blocked from 16 yards, first corner of the day coming up. Rossi to Cucho falls back to Morris with a half chance he could not put on goal. Crew want a handball in the area, no call. Crew stalled at the top of the area, this has happened a few times in the early going, shoot sooner. Amundson with a long distance ball to Cucho who looks inside has Chiellini now it is out of danger in the area. Crew with numbers, squander it with a pass to Palacios. Tillman with a big hit, but his team gets a throw in. At half field LA gets chopped to the ground and it is called. Vela into the area, back heel to Oliveira and it’s then just out of the area, Hernandez beats 3. LA into the area, cleared out of touch. Murillo runs right into Morris, both down, Corner for Rossi, played short the return well too long, another wasted though lesser opportunity. Cucho well wide at 25 yards. Matan taken down in the center circle. The restart is shot well over the net. Vela near the top of the area, blocked. Rossi with a shot that is into the side netting. Crew corner, Ratan blocked by Chiellini and it is cleared. Yebowa back off the end line from Rossi in the air and a handball in the area by Palacios. Over the ball stand 2 players. Acosta looking to stir things up. First PK for Creapau and Lucho is set, GK goes right, Chucho left 1-0 Crew a 33’. LA had gone 400’ without conceding in the playoffs. Morris steals a pass in their offensive third, it goes around the field, back into the area and in the net off the skilled foot of Yeboah at 37’. Outside of his left to the back of the net. LA begins to press. Hollingshead in the area well wide left. Nagbe down at 42’. LFC DFK into the area for Chielini back in and taken by the GK Cucho, half a step slow as Vela knocks it out. From a corner to their own defensive half, now to their own GK, long ball for Rossi and Murillo knocks it out for another corner. Again short and again well back into the center circle, why give up the full and now half a field. Acosta called for a foul on Nagbe and again he remains down. Aaron Long, the ex NYRB Defensive Player of the Year in MLS is up along with others. Just wide from Oliveira off Camacho for the initial corner for the visitors at 49’. Cleared a bit by Crew and the half.
LA have to solve the Crew if not it will be a longer 2nd than it was first half. Not so much to reduce the disparity in possession but to hold the ball, get forward and in on goal. Crew, keep at it, get your shots off earlier and build.
Both teams come out for the 2nd half as they started the game, if I am down by a pair I make a change or more. Cucho facing Chiellini with a distant shot parried by Crepeau. Another ball in is cleared out by LA. Vela with a bad foul and Cucho was jumping around like a fish out of water as he holds his shin and the caution is issued, could have ben a red, great play on by the center as the Crew kept in on goal, prevented by Palacios with a player just waiting to send it home. Murillo with one arm pushes Chucho off him out of play. Tillman carded at 53” for a number of fouls as he takes out Nagbe. Crew corner #7 on the game almost every 7 minutes, that is tremendous offensive pressure. Rossi over the bal,l waiting as he wants Oliveira ten yards back and shot by Morris, lofted into the arms of Crepeau, Oliveira has it tackled away by Malte and the GK grabs it up. Offside for sure. Lucho held off by Murillo in the area, comes back in cleared out by Chiellini. Vela from the top of the area at the net minder, still goalless in his last 15 games. Rossi down and a mass confrontation happens as Chiellini is pushing people, may have been worthy of a 2nd yellow but no, Tillman did not get him hard enough. Tillman out for Bogusz, not sure if this was planned or reaction to the rough play of Tillman to not go a player down. Malte cautioned as he took out Vela, the quick restart called back. It is well within their offensive 3rd, near enough for a shot, we shall see. Vela over the ball over the top for Murillo to Mouagna but over the net. Yeboah outpaces Murillo puts it in it is played out of touch still Crew ball. Oliveira fouled by Morris, LA still has it as they look to get into the Crew half of the field. Mougna knocks his mark down who of course stays down. Ilie carded as he takes down Nagbe. Great 2nd effort by Bouagna the first shot, off the face of the GK he then sneaks it in along the post and the GK is down for some time. Malte and Vela get tangled up, no call Carlos remains on the ground. Palacios cautioned. Gressel and Ramirez with a pair of goals of late in the playoffs are now in at 85’ but I am sure more than 5’ of extra time. Palacios and Ilie are out for LA. Rossi mishits a shot in the area big time at 88”, might have been the icing on the cake. Malte through his mark and gets called for it, the ex NYCFC player is all smiles. Chiellini bumps the GK and claims not, his reputation saved him here as not a player came after him for it. Molino in for Rossi. Extra time will be a total of 7’. Palancia trips up Ramirez and Crew have the kick. Ramirez gets ahead of a ball into the area down. on contact and no whistle. Morris cautioned for a foul on Vela. Murillo gets him on the outside of the foot pretty bad, but as it was not in the area by a tad, not under VAR. Palancia with another foul at 95’ as he got Molino.
The Crew are the MLS Cup Champs of 2023.