The most beautiful goals from the final and the match for third place in the Leagues Cup 2024

Four Major League Soccer teams scored impressive goals in the Leagues Cup final and third-place match as the summer tournament neared its conclusion.

Columbus Crew and LAFC met again at Lower.com Field in a rematch of the 2023 MLS Cup, as Wilfried Nancy’s side won the Black and Gold and Juan “Cucho” Hernandez scored a brace. Young player Jacen Russell-Rowe decided the game in stoppage time by finishing off a brilliant Crew move after Hernandez had scored the opening goal moments earlier.

Outside of the final, Colorado Rapids and Philadelphia Union faced off at Subaru Park to determine who would join Columbus and LAFC in qualifying for next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup. The Rapids prevailed on penalties, but still managed to score some impressive goals in regulation time before winning on penalties.

Here are the five most beautiful goals from the League Cup final and the third place match.

What a quick move by the Rapids.

Djordje Mihailovic’s clever feint found Rafael Navarro perfectly positioned to play Calvin Harris free on goal, and Harris made no mistake from close range, scoring with a calm direct shot.

Even with a 2-1 lead in the final moments of the final, the Crew still tried to dominate the game and secure the Leagues Cup title with one more goal.

That’s exactly what they did after a relentless counterattack that saw talisman Hernandez give up the chance for a hat-trick and instead let Russell-Rowe have a free shot on goal that could have won the game.

Although Olivier Giroud probably would have preferred to lift the title on Sunday night, he still managed to score his first goal for LAFC, equalizing early in the second half.

The 37-year-old striker leapt highest over Columbus defenders to score the equalizer and put his team back in the game. He hopes this will be the first of many goals for him in a LAFC jersey.

What a hit, Oliver Larraz.

The defensive midfielder may not be well known in Major League Soccer, but that could well change after his stunning strike against Union. Not even the great Andre Blake could save the volley that helped the Rapids win the shootout.

Crew No. 9 Cucho Hernandez – who, at 5’9” is not a tall striker – managed to shake off his marker and hammer home a trademark header that put the Crew ahead in the first half.

It was a perfectly placed header, made possible by a high cross from Mohamed Faris, which left Hugo Lloris rooted to the spot.

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