Club America Claim First Campeones Cup in Dramatic Penalty Shootout Over Columbus Crew
Club America secured their first-ever Campeones Cup with a thrilling 5-4 penalty shootout win over the Columbus Crew after a 1-1 draw in regular time. The 2024 edition of the tournament saw the Liga MX side prevail in an intense battle at Lower.Com Field, extending their dominance by lifting their fifth trophy in the past 15 months under head coach André Jardine.
A Tale of Two Halves
After a tense and cautious first half, the action picked up in the second. Club America broke the deadlock in the 68th minute, with Víctor Dávila capitalizing on a Columbus turnover to score in open space. The Crew fought back just nine minutes later, with Malte Amundsen converting off a set piece to equalize emphatically in the 77th minute.
Nail-Biting Penalty Shootout
Regular time ended 1-1, leading to a nail-biting penalty shootout that saw both sides go blow-for-blow through seven rounds. Ultimately, Néstor Araujo sealed the win for Club America, converting the final penalty after Amundsen missed his attempt for Columbus, giving the Mexican side a 5-4 edge in the shootout.
A Boost for a Struggling League Campaign
While Club America have been successful in cup competitions, they have struggled in the Liga MX season, currently sitting 10th with 13 points after nine games. This Campeones Cup victory comes as a much-needed boost for a club that has experienced a dominant run in the past 15 months but seeks to find consistency in their league performances.
