Columbus Crew Clinch Crucial Leagues Cup Victory Against 'Eliminated' Club León

Written by Patrick Echatah

Columbus Crew kept their Leagues Cup 2025 hopes alive after a thrilling 1-0 victory against Club León.

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As the defending champions, they needed to win their Phase One finale to advance to the quarterfinals. Wilfried Nancy’s team delivered, securing a crucial victory that puts them in a position to move on.

“It’s not easy,” Nancy reflected post-match. “We start a game that, you know, you have to win, but you also have to score a lot of goals.

“It’s difficult to tell that to my players, so that’s why I’m really proud of what they did.”

Even though The Crew missed several scoring opportunities in the first half, they maintained their focus and didn’t get frustrated.

They stayed patient, and their persistence paid off when Max Arfsten scored the winning goal in the 53rd minute. Taking advantage of a defensive lapse from León, Arfsten calmly curled a shot past the keeper to secure the victory.

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After scoring a goal, Columbus continued to aggressively attack in search of a second, which left their defense exposed. However, goalkeeper Patrick Schulte made a crucial save in stoppage time, preventing a late equalizer.

This heroic stop was particularly meaningful for Schulte, as it redeemed him for a costly mistake in the team’s previous game against Toluca.

“This is the story of a goalkeeper,” Nancy said. “He made a save in the 89th minute that if he doesn’t make it, we are dead. I am happy for him; he deserves it.

“I am a big, big fan of Patrick Schulte.”

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