Club América WIN the Campeones Cup

The competition has been running since 2018 and it is between the winners of the MLS and Liga MX campaigns. As América won both the Apertura and Clausura during the 2023/24 campaign, they automatically qualified to face the Columbus Crew.

In previous years, Tigres were crowned champions on two occasions whilst New York City FC and the Crew were also former winners of the competition. América made the final in 2019 but lost to Atlanta United.

This time around, Las Águilas broke the deadlock moments after the hour mark through new signing Victor Dávila. Entering the pitch just five minutes prior, the Chilean right winger was left in acres of space on the halfway line to break towards goal. Granted a one-on-one opportunity with the Crew 'keeper Patrick Schulte, the former CSKA Moscow attacker was able to lift his effort over the on-rushing Schulte to give América the lead.

Columbus responded well, forcing Luis Malagón into some smart saves but they would find an equaliser 10 minutes after going behind. Diego Rossi swung in a cross that found the head of Christian Ramírez, headed towards goal, the ball fell perfectly to Malte Amundsen who tapped home into an empty net. With the game being held at the home ground of the Columbus Crew, Lower.com Field, the largely Crew supporters went into uproar.

The score was set at 1-1 with 15 minutes to go, but neither side was able to capitalise. As a result, the match headed to a penalty shootout to decide the 2024 Campeones Cup winners.

The Shootout

Up stepped Rudy Camacho for the first penalty and the central defender was able to send Malagón the wrong way.

Diego Valdés followed up for América's first spot kick and was able to beat Schulte, who dived the right way, with a low drilled effort to the 'keeper's bottom left.

The first miss of the shootout was through Alexandru Matan who saw his effort palmed away by Malagón.

The advantage would fall to América if Richard Sanchéz could convert his penalty, but the Paraguayan was also denied by Schulte.

The next six penalties were all converted as Jacen Russell-Rowe, Juan Hernández and DeJuan Jones all scored from their chances at the spot-kick. As for Améica, Rodrigo Aguirre, Álvaro Fidalgo and Dávila all made their penalties count.

Aziel Jackson stood up as the sixth penalty taker saw his penalty saved by Malagón. Advantage fell to América for the third time in the match but Ramon Juaréz failed to capitalise, extending the shootout.

Scoring the all-important equaliser, Amundsen stepped up for the seventh penalty but the Dane opted to blast his effort, ultimately being denied by the crossbar.

For the third, and soon to be, final time, América was handed another opportunity to win the shootout. Néstor Araujo was handed the ball and powerfully placed his effort to Schulte's left, whilst the goalkeeper managed to get a hand to the ball, he could not keep it from hitting the back of the net. As the América players ran towards Araujo, the realisation sunk in that they were finally crowned the 2024 Campeones Cup winners.

After a remarkable night of action, the result means that América has won five titles under André Jardine since taking charge of the first team in June 2023. Winning the 2023 Apertura, 2024 Clausura, 2024 Supercopa, the Campeón de Campeones 2024 and now the Campeones Cup 2024.

Will América be able to win any more trophies under Jardine? Let us know your thoughts!