Does the Los Angeles Football Club have something to prove before the Leagues Cup final? To themselves? To the league? Or to their opponents on Sunday, the impressive Columbus Crew?

LAFC faces the Crew for the second time in nine months with a trophy on the line and looks to rewrite the script for Lower.com Field.

Columbus won its third league title in December following its MLS Cup triumph in 2020, denying LAFC a second consecutive championship.

The 2022 MLS Cup winners, two-time CONCACAF finalists and Supporters’ Shield winners had plenty of reasons to consider themselves the best team in the league rather than the West Coast sidekick Black and Gold.

“We didn’t show it against them and that’s why I want to prove, and I think the guys want to prove, that when titles are on the line, we’re here, playing and winning those titles,” LAFC defender Ryan Hollingsahead said.

But that’s how it’s been since head coach Wilfried Nancy took over the job in Columbus in 2023.

Hollingshead, 33, started at right back in LAFC’s ill-fated 2-1 title loss in Columbus, the last of three attempts at the title that didn’t go in their favor last season, and endured another disappointing experience after a league game against the Crew on July 17 at BMO Stadium.

After breaking a new club record 13-game unbeaten streak with a 5-1 loss to the Crew – LAFC’s only defeat in 20 games at BMO Stadium this season – the veteran fullback knew what he wanted and expected for the future.

Giving credit where credit is due, he tipped his proverbial hat toward the visitors’ dressing room, which blared with music and cheers, and declared: “I hope we will see them again.”

So Hollingshead was confident the players and coaching staff could make good progress. And they have: They are 6-0-2 since the Crew’s lone blemish came during LAFC’s ongoing 18-1-3 streak, which began in early May.

While that nasty setback was a reminder that there are MLS teams capable of putting LAFC in their place, it prevented Cherundolo’s team from getting results in the league, reaching the Leagues Cup final or finishing deep in the U.S. Open Cup, which could offer another shot at a trophy with a win in Seattle on August 28.

After Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami took the Leagues Cup by storm last summer when the first tournament brought together 47 teams from Major League Soccer and Liga MX, the month-long tournament produced a spectacular showdown at its second attempt.

It should come as no surprise that Hollingshead’s hope became reality so quickly.

Former LAFC star and 2020 MLS Golden Boot winner Diego Rossi scored six goals for Columbus, tying current LAFC star and defending MLS Golden Boot winner Dénis Bouanga for the most goals in the competition.

Columbus advanced to the knockout rounds by defeating LAFC in the MLS Cup, stopping Sporting Kansas City, Inter Miami, NYCFC on penalties and Philadelphia on Wednesday to claim its fifth consecutive knockout appearance in Columbus.