There are only four teams left in the 2024 Leagues Cup, all of them MLS teams.

They include three of the top eight teams in Soccer America’s MLS Power Rankings – No. 1 Columbus, No. 4 LAFC and No. 8 Colorado – as well as Philadelphia, the lone survivor from last year’s semifinals.

Here’s a look at Wednesday’s semifinals…

• Columbus Crew vs Philadelphia Union: The Leagues Cup has given the Union a lot of confidence after winning their last five games against MLS opponents after going winless in ten MLS games.

“I think that’s something a lot of people didn’t expect from us, considering how the season went at the beginning of the year,” says Union’s center back Jack Elliott, “but I think we’ve found ourselves again. And this tournament has helped us reignite our fire and shown us that we have a bit of confidence again and are back and playing well again.”

The Crew, who had a bye into the knockout phase as defending MLS champions, had to come from behind in their last two games – 0-2 in the second half and 0-1 after 14 seconds – to reach the semifinals.

Both the Crew and Union advanced after wins to nil.

Crew coach Wilfried Nancy let his players decide who would shoot against NYCFC. One of the successful shooters was Cucho Hernandez, who missed his penalty in the semifinals of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup against Tigres but scored a Panenka against NYCFC.

“I’m with them,” Nancy said, “and I want to give them good energy because this is a really difficult mental exercise.”

Cucho didn’t let the pressure bother him.

“I like that,” he said afterwards. “I like the pressure.”

Path to the semi-finals:
• Columbus crew. Sporting KC 4-0, Inter Miami 3-2, NYCFC 1-1 (PK win).
• Philadelphia Union. Charlotte FC 1:0, Cruz Azul 1:1 (press conference loss), CF Montreal 2:0, FC Cincinnati 4:2, FC Mazatlan 1:1 (press conference win).

• LAFC vs Colorado Rapids: LAFC comfortably made it through the knockout phase, winning its three games 9-1. The Rapids’ three victories all came against Liga MX opponents, with the latter being a shootout victory over top-ranked Mexican side Club America, which has won both halves of the 2023-24 league season.

LAFC will be favorites at home, but the Leagues Cup run that began with a shootout win over Leon to propel the Rapids into the round of 32 was important for Chris Armas’ young side.

“Such games, such performances, such victories, the drama against a team like Club America, four wins in a row against Mexican teams – only that can give teams and individual players the real confidence to be able to compete with anyone,” said Armas.

LAFC’s attack was impressive, scoring multiple goals from four different players in the 2024 Leagues Cup. Denis Bouanga’s goal against the Sounders was his fifth in five games and his 11th in the Leagues Cup, surpassing Lionel Messi as the competition’s all-time goalscorer.

LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo described the Gabon international as a player with a “goal-scoring mentality” who fights until he scores a goal.

“He just keeps going and going and going,” says Cherundolo, “and that wears down the defenders.”

Path to the semi-finals:
• LAFC. Tijuana 3-0, Vancouver Whitecaps 2-2 (lost on penalties), Austin FC 2-0, San Jose Earthquakes 4-1, Seattle Sounders 3-0.
• Colorado Rapids. Portland Timbers 0-4, Leon 1-1 (PK win), Juarez 3-2, Toluca 2-1, Club America 0-0 (PK win).