Columbus Crew vs LAFC | 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup | Round of 16

A spot in the quarterfinals is at stake on a CONCACAF Champions Cup night in Columbus, Ohio. It's the Columbus crew and LAFC in the second leg of the round of 16. Yvonne Bartone blows the opening whistle. Let's watch this great sport together. And it's Buwanga. Denis Buwanga onto his right. Denis Buwanga straight at Patrick Schulte. Three white shirts around. He manages to skip through one of them. Forced into the corner. Elusive. And comes to Russell Rose. Scores! Maybe. Just maybe. They need at least three tonight. They have one early. Hold back for Martinez. Martinez with a left and that wasn't far away. Here come Columbus though. They're in down the right with Farsi. Farsi with a cutback. Russell Rose stabs it over. It's a great run from Farsi and they lost him LAFC. And the cutback was very good. But Russell Rose just caught him a little bit too deep. Leaning back as he made contact. MLS Cup playoffs a couple years ago from that similar spot. Now he swings in the cross from the end line. And arriving was Jackson. Spins to Rossi. It takes a deflection. Here goes Rossi. Edge of the box. Russell Rose tried to scoop it for Rossi. Shouts for handball. Yvonne Bartone put his whistle to his lips and now points to the spot. It is a penalty for Columbus. Of course, let's see. Is this handball? It certainly comes off the arm of Eddie Segura. Was the arm in an unnatural position? Well from that angle there. Not sure they'll be able to overturn this. Diego Rossi scores. Hamilton was high. The expectations were low. But the Columbus crew are two-thirds of the way. Up the hill. Two-nil on the night. LAFC's aggregate lead. With the whistle in his mouth. And there is the halftime whistle. What a first half for Columbus. They needed an early goal. They got it. Settle yourself in. Here we go in the second half of this second leg in the round of 16. What more cup chaos might we see over the next 45 minutes? And Rossi trying to thread it through on his left. Jackson scooping it toward Farsi. Mo Farsi! Wide! What a chant! Oh, it just wouldn't sit down. Oh, there was a save. Wow, the left foot of Loris kept it out. This is Jeremy Obobese who, again, has had very few touches in this game. Now Martinez. And Martinez wriggles through. Top of the 18. Martinez just wide. Russell Rowe trying to return to Rossi. Jackson protects. Lays off. Played far side. On the right foot. It's straight at Loris. Rossi spins deftly to keep possession. Feeds it out wide. And with the left foot, comes back post! Did that cross the line? Cross the line? No, apparently not. Columbus have got to get up the pitch. Can't do it here. They do have a free kick though. Rossi was chopped down with about three minutes remaining. There will be a late card. Russell Rowe again. Back in the direction of Farsi. It is a free kick for Columbus. And a yellow card. It is Shambo! Putt away! Hugo Loris saves the game for now for LAFC. It's taken away. It's a two-on-one for LAFC. Buwanga streaking down the middle. It's fed through. It's Denis Buwanga! It's over! Buwanga puts it away with the final kick of the game to confirm LAFC's place in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. And it is now official. Final whistle from Yvonne Bartone. LAFC back in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. They had to hang on for dear life for 95 minutes. And then Denis Buwanga putting it away at the end of stoppage time. A terrific night. A night that you thought might not present much drama.