LAFC gun for their second straight MLS Cup title as they hit the road to face Columbus Crew in the 2023 final on Saturday.
In just their sixth season of existence, LAFC can become the first back-to-back winners of the MLS Cup since their cross-town rivals LA Galaxy did so back in 2011 and 2012. Having won last year’s crown at home as the reigning Supporters’ Shield winners, this time they’ll have to manage the feat on the road as they visit their Eastern Conference challengers.
The Columbus Crew emerged from the East after a stunning Conference Final comeback against this year’s regular season champions FC Cincinnati, down 2-0 at halftime but winning 3-2 in extra time. The Crew are aiming for their first Cup title since 2020 when they also contested the final at home, winning 3-0 over the Seattle Sounders.
The Sporting News is following the 2023 MLS Cup final between Columbus Crew and LAFC live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
MORE: Preview the 2023 MLS Cup final with picks, predictions, and best bets
2023 MLS Cup final live score
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| Columbus Crew | — | — |
| LAFC | — | — |
Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT
Location: Lower.com Field (Columbus, OH)
Referee: Armando Villarreal
Starting lineups (predicted):
Columbus Crew (3-4-3, right to left): Schulte (GK) — Moreira, Camacho, Amundsen — Gressel, Nagbe, Morris, Yeboah — Matan, C. Hernandez, Rossi.
LAFC (4-3-3, right to left): Crepeau (GK) — Hollingshead, Murillo, Chiellini, Palacios — Tillman, I. Sanchez, Acosta — Olivera, Vela, Bouanga.
2023 MLS Cup final live updates, highlights, commentary
1 hour to kickoff: Lineups are expected imminently, we’ll bring you them as soon as they are released. With an hour to go, LAFC supporters are doing well to make their presence known as their team contests the 2023 final on the road.
More than an hour before kickoff @LAFC supporters have taken over part of the upper deck @mls #lafc pic.twitter.com/FTtS6OnnfY
— Kevin Baxter 🇺🇦🏳️🌈 (@kbaxter11) December 9, 2023
1 hour 15 mins to kick: Another fascinating storyline today is the return of Diego Rossi against his former club LAFC. Rossi joined the west-coast side in January of 2018 from Uruguayan club Penarol and played four seasons with LAFC, scoring 50 goals and assisting 19 more in 106 league games for them before leaving midseason to join Turkish club Fenerbahce.
It didn’t quite work out for Rossi overseas, but he has been instrumental in the Crew’s second-half push to the final, joining in late August and bagging 11 goal contributions in 15 matches, including three goals and three assists in the playoffs. Today he has a chance to redeem his departure from his old club, who will be equally motivated to ensure he regrets ever leaving Los Angeles.
Diego Rossi on his decision to come back to MLS: “When they showed me what the team was like, the facilities, I saw how the team played, I liked it. So, that helped me make the decision…”#LAFC #Crew96 #MLS #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/WCBYvlbOYX
— Area Sports Network (@AreaSportsNet) December 8, 2023
1 hour 30 mins to kick: One of this match’s best stories is LAFC goalkeeper Makime Crepeau, who returns to the MLS Cup final one year removed from his awful leg fracture in this very match. Crepeau went down in last year’s final against the Philadelphia Union deep in stoppage time, forcing John McCarthy onto the field in a pressure situation.
Crepeau returned in August, and has retaken the starting spot from McCarthy. This will be a big, emotional moment for the Canadian international.
“I’m just trying to be the best version that I can be for my teammates.”@LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau joins Box 2 Box ahead of MLS Cup 2023 to discuss his return from a devastating in last year’s final. 👏 pic.twitter.com/inc6vDYHi8
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 8, 2023
1 hour 45 mins to kick: The two fanbases have engaged in a chant-off in downtown Columbus before the match, as they passed each other on Nationwide Blvd! Glad things remained civil, but this appears to be a tense atmosphere nonetheless!
The Two fan bases meet before the match! #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/WH3Us2yVEp
— Area Sports Network (@AreaSportsNet) December 9, 2023
2 hours to kickoff: Today’s epic match is here! Many are hoping for an electric final much like last year’s, which saw LAFC triumph in a six-goal thriller. Yet some will be afraid that the match could get cagey as many finals often do.
You can get a full preview of today’s game by clicking here, with picks, predictions, and tips!
The matchday of all matchdays.#MLSCup is finally here. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/0xiDkZG4Go
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 9, 2023
Columbus Crew vs LAFC lineups, team news
The only injury concern for Columbus head coach Wilfried Nancy is the ACL tear suffered by Will Sands back in April. Otherwise, the Crew squad is entirely fit for duty.
It’s possible that Julian Gressel comes into the starting lineup to replace Mohamed Farsi, but otherwise it should look as it did in the dramatic Eastern Conference Final win over FC Cincinnati. Diego Rossi will take on his former club LAFC, who he left two years ago for a move to Turkish side Fenerbahce. He has five goals and six assists since returning to MLS this summer.
Columbus Crew projected starting lineup (3-4-3): Schulte (GK) — Moreira, Camacho, Amundsen — Gressel, Nagbe, Morris, Yeboah — Matan, C. Hernandez, Rossi.
Columbus Crew subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
LAFC, amazingly, are at essentially full health for the MLS Cup final, which is quite a luxury to have on the road.
Maxime Crepeau has reestablished himself as the first-choice goalkeeper since returning from his serious leg fracture, supplanting John McCarthy back in mid-September. Crepeau has kept three clean sheets in the playoffs, on a stretch of seven straight halves of play without conceding a goal.
LAFC projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Crepeau (GK) — Hollingshead, Murillo, Chiellini, Palacios — Tillman, I. Sanchez, Acosta — Olivera, Vela, Bouanga.
LAFC subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
How to watch 2023 MLS Cup final
The 2023 MLS Cup final will be shown in the United States on the FOX main network channel, while a Spanish-language broadcast is available on Fox Deportes. Both channels are available to stream on Fubo.
In Canada, the match will be shown on both TSN3 and TSN4, which can be streamed on Fubo Canada. A broadcast in French is also available on RDS 2.
2023 MLS Cup final betting odds, lines
| Columbus win (90 mins) |
Draw | LAFC win (90 mins) |
Both teams to score Y / N |
Over / Under 2.5 goals |
COL win the Cup |
LAFC win the Cup |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings (USA) |
+115 | +230 | +220 | -155 / +125 | -125 / -110 | -155 | +125 |
