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Columbus Crew top Club Leon in final group match in Leagues Cup: Replay
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- Columbus Crew top Club Leon in final group match in Leagues Cup: Replay
The Crew have secured a final three points in Leagues Cup group play, defeating Liga MX's Club Leon 1-0 at Lower.com Field on Aug. 5.
In the first five minutes of play, the Crew seemingly put a goal on the board off a shot from midfielder Max Arfsten . The goal was overturned after a review determined defender Malte Amundsen was offside.
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The game was scoreless at halftime, but Arfsten found redemption when he recorded the lone goal in the 53rd minute.
Columbus Crew defender Steven Moreira (31) dribbles between Club Leon defender Salvador Reyes (26) and defender Rodrigo Echeverria (20) during the first half of the Leagues Cup soccer match at Lower.com Field in Columbus on Aug. 5, 2025.
The Crew finish the three-game group stage with seven points and a three-goal differential. The four teams with the most points from each league advance to the quarterfinals, with goal differential being the first tie-breaker if needed.
While the point total is enough to boost Columbus to first in the MLS standings by the end of the night, there are two more days of final group-stage games, with all the teams who were above the Crew still yet to play.
(90+7) Multiple yellow cards after teams get following heated scuffle late in game
Crew's Steven Moreira and Club Leon's Rodrigo Echeverria were shown yellow cards late in the game after another heated moment on the field that led to multiple bouts shoving from both teams that officials had to break up.
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Score:Crew 1-0
(87') Columbus Crew make late-game subtitutions vs Club Leon
With time running out in regulation, the Crew made three changes to the lineup:
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Midfielder Lassi Lappalainen for Max Arfsten
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Midfielder Amar Sejdic for Taha Habroune
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Forward Jacen Russell-Rowe for Daniel Gazdag
(67') Steven Moreira sends shot attempt over crossbar
Crew defender Steven Moreira took a shot attempt from the top-right of Leon's box that went far over the crossbar and into the crowd, giving Leon possession.
Score:Crew 1-0
(63') Columbus Crew's Andres Herrera, Club Leon's Oscar Jimenez shown yellow cards after teams scuffle
Both teams got into a heated scuffle near Leon's goal after Crew midfielder Andres Herrera was charged with a yellow card foul against Leon goalkeeper Oscar Jimenez.
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Following the foul, which occurred as Herrera attempted to get to a cross pass, Jimenez threw the ball at Herrera, leading to his yellow card.
Score:Crew 1-0
(53') Max Arfsten finds another scoring opportunity, put Columbus Crew on board vs Club Leon
Midfielder Max Arfsten officially put the Crew on the board with a goal from the center of Leon's box. Arfsten had a shot cross the goal line in the first half, but it was overturned due to defender Malte Amundsen being offside.
Score:Crew 1-0
(46') Columbus Crew makes halftime change, substitute Darlington Nagbe out vs Club Leon
The Crew made their first subtitution of the game, taking midfielder Darlington Nagbe out of the lineup for Ibrahim Aliyu .
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Score:0-0
Columbus Crew forward Max Arfsten (27) reacts to scoring a goal during the first half of the Leagues Cup soccer match against Club Leon at Lower.com Field in Columbus on Aug. 5, 2025.
Columbus Crew vs Club Leon first-half stats
Possession rate: Crew (53.1%), Leon (46.9%)
Shots: Crew (7), Leon (2)
Shots on goal: Crew (3), Leon (2)
Goalkeeper saves: Crew (2), Leon (3)
Fouls: Crew (3), Leon (9)
(35') Club Leon goalkeeper Oscar Jimenez makes diving save on Diego Rossi shot attempt
Crew forward Taha Habroune started an attacking play after forcing a turnover on Leon's side of the field, and once Habroune entered the box, he sent a pass to forward Diego Rossi on the right side. Rossi took a close-range shot in which Leon goalkeeper Oscar Jimenez dove to make the save on.
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Score:0-0
(25') Diego Rossi's header attempt saved by Club Leon goalkeeper Oscar Jimenez
Crew leading-scorer Diego Rossi attempted to get a goal on the board with a header near Leon's right goalpost, but goalkeeper Oscar Jimenez was able to record a two-handed save to stop the opportunity.
Score:0-0
(6') Columbus Crew remain tied vs Club Leon after goal overturned
Midfielder Max Arfsten's goal was overturned following a review of the play, which determined defender Malte Amundsen was offside prior to Arfsten scoring.
Score:0-0
(4') Columbus Crew capitalize on free kick, score vs Club Leon
Midfielder Max Arfsten put the ball over Leon's goal line off a free kick opportunity the Crew were awarded at the top of Leon's box, giving the Crew an early advantage.
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The Crew were awarded the free kick right when midfielder Andres Herrera was fouled by midfielder Stiven Barreiro. Barreiro was given the first yellow card of the game when arguing the call with the official.
Score:Crew 1-0
Who are the referees for Columbus Crew vs Club Leon?
Here are the officials for the Crew vs Leon tonight:
Referee: Selvin Brown
Assistant Referee 1: Gerson Orellana
Assistant Referee 2: Roney Salinas
Fourth Official: Jefferson Escobar
VAR: Jesus Montero
Assistant VAR: Yasith Monge
Club Leon starting lineup vs Columbus Crew
Here is the starting 11 for Leon vs Columbus:
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GK: Oscar Jimenez
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DF: Stiven Barreiro
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DF: Paul Bellon
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DF: Adonis Frias
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MF: Fernando Beltran
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MF: Rodrigo Echeverria
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MF: Nicholas Fonseca
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MF: Ivan Moreno
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MF: Salvador Reyes
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MF: James Rodriguez
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FW: Rogelio Funes
Columbus Crew starting lineup vs Club Leon
Here is the starting 11 for Columbus vs Club Leon:
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GK: Patrick Schulte
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DF: Malte Amundsen
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DF: Steven Moreira
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DF: Sean Zawadzki
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MF: Max Arfsten
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MF: Dylan Chambost
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MF: Andres Herrera
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MF: Darlington Nagbe
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FW: Daniel Gazdag
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FW: Taha Habroune
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FW: Diego Rossi
What is the first tie-breaker to advance to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals?
Only the top four teams from each league will go on to the quarterfinals. If there is a tie in points, the tiebreaker is goal differential.
How to listen to Columbus Crew vs Club Leon radio broadcast
The Crew vs. Club Leon English-speaking radio broadcast will be on Alt 105.7 FM and available via the iHeartRadio app. Columbus' regular radio broadcaster Chris Doran will be on the call.
The Spanish radio broadcast can be found on La Grande 103.1 FM and the La Grande radio app, with Juan Valladares doing play-by-play.
Columbus Crew vs Club Leon streaming information
The Crew vs. Club Leon will be featured on cable television via FS1, as well as on Apple TV with an MLS Season Pass subscription. Apple TV+ subscribers can watch the matchup without an MLS Season Pass subscription.
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Here are the broadcast teams for tonight:
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FS1 English broadcast: Nate Butkaty (play-by-play), Devon Karr (analyst)
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Apple TV+ English broadcast: Callum Williams (play-by-play), Ian Joy (analyst)
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Apple TV+ Spanish broadcast: Jorge Perez-Navarro (play-by-play), Marcelo Balboa (analyst)
What time does Columbus Crew vs Club Leon kick off?
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 5 at Lower.com Field.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew defeat Club Leon in Leagues Cup group-stage game: Replay
