COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew tonight defeated LIGA MX side Deportivo Cruz Azul 2-0 to win the 2021 Campeones Cup, the annual competition between the reigning MLS Cup LIGA MX champions, becoming the first team to post a shutout in the history of the cup. The trophy marks the first piece of international silverware won by the Black & Gold, secured in the first-ever international match held at the Crew’s world-class Lower.com Field.
Lucas Zelarayan – who won his second Campeones Cup trophy – received GEICO Man of the Match award following his performance in the contest. Notably, Crew Head Coach Caleb Porter became the first American head coach to lift Campeones Cup, as the previous editions were won by head coaches from Brazil (Ricardo Ferretti, 2018) and from the Netherlands (Frank De Boer, 2019).
With tonight’s triumph, the Black & Gold brought its all-time, top-tier silverware total to seven, as the Crew have previously won two MLS Cups (2008, 2020), three Supporters’ Shields (2004, 2008, 2009) and one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (2002).
