Columbus Crew Clutch First-Half Lead to Beat Puebla in Leagues Cup Replay

Columbus Crew Secures Victory Over Club Puebla in Leagues Cup Match

The Columbus Crew delivered a strong performance against Club Puebla in their Leagues Cup group stage match, securing a 3-1 win at Lower.com Field on August 1. This victory earned the Crew four points in the tournament, putting them in a favorable position as they head into their next game.

Key Moments from the First Half

The Crew opened the scoring in the 14th minute when defender Malte Amundsen headed in a free kick goal. This marked Amundsen’s first start since returning from a knee injury sustained against Inter Miami on May 31. Just three minutes later, Diego Rossi extended the lead with a goal assisted by forward Taha Habroune.

Midfielder Andres Herrera then added the third goal of the first half, capitalizing on an assist from Habroune. This was Herrera’s second goal against Puebla this season. Despite the Crew’s dominance, Puebla managed to cut the lead in the first-half stoppage time when Esteban Lozano scored.

Lineup Changes and Tactical Adjustments

Regular starters Daniel Gazdag and goalkeeper Patrick Schulte were not included in the starting lineup. However, Gazdag entered the game in the 62nd minute, replacing Rossi. Defender Yevhen Cheberko also came on for Amundsen. In the halftime break, forward Jacen Russell-Rowe replaced Ibrahim Aliyu, marking the first substitution of the match.

Columbus made additional changes in the second half, including replacing defender Steven Moreira with Cesar Ruvalcaba and midfielder Andres Herrera with Lassi Lappalainen.

Statistical Overview

During the first half, the Crew controlled possession with a 56.1% rate compared to Puebla’s 43.9%. The Crew recorded seven shots, with three on target, while Puebla had four shots, two of which were on goal. The Crew’s goalkeeper made one save, while Puebla had none. The Crew committed six fouls, while Puebla committed 11.

Puebla received its first yellow card of the match in the 43rd minute after midfielder Pablo Gamarra fouled Crew midfielder Darlington Nagbe. The Crew also had a goal overturned in the 26th minute due to an offside call.

Standings and Upcoming Matches

In the Leagues Cup standings, the Crew are currently positioned behind several MLS teams, including Colorado Rapids, FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami, and others. The Crew will face Club Leon on August 5 in their final group stage match. Club Leon is ranked 27th in the tournament.

Before the match, the Crew was the fourth-ranked team in the field of 36, while Club Puebla was the lowest-ranked Liga MX team at 35th.

Broadcast and Fan Engagement

Fans can catch the match on Alt 105.7 FM or via the iHeartRadio app for the English broadcast, and La Grande 103.1 FM or the La Grande radio app for the Spanish coverage. The game was also available for streaming on Apple TV through the MLS Season Pass subscription.

The match kicked off at 7 p.m. on August 1 at Lower.com Field. With this win, the Crew moves closer to advancing in the Leagues Cup, setting the stage for an exciting final group stage game against Club Leon.