In a dramatic turn of events, goalkeeper Patrick Schulte redeemed himself with two crucial saves in the shootout after making an early mistake that led to Tigres’ opening goal. Despite the setback, Diego Rossi’s 59th-minute equalizer brought the Columbus Crew back into contention. Manager Wilfried Nancy’s side now looks ahead to a clash with the Inter Miami CF-CF Monterrey winner in the upcoming CCC final.
The quarterfinal series was evenly poised at 1-1 following the first leg at Lower.com Field, but Tigres took an early lead in just the third minute of the second leg in Mexico. Schulte’s error allowed André-Pierre Gignac to capitalize and put Tigres in front. However, the Columbus Crew fought back and Rossi’s goal restored parity just before the hour mark.
After a tense period of extra time failed to yield any goals, the match went to penalties where Schulte emerged as the hero. His vital saves, including a spectacular stop on Gignac’s attempt, propelled the Crew to victory as Max Arfsten sealed the semifinal win with a well-taken spot kick. This remarkable turnaround showcases the resilience and determination of Nancy’s side in the face of adversity.
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