The Columbus Crew is the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champion, thanks to a 1-0 win, on a Freddy Garcia goal, over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Thursday.
The 89-year-old tournament took on Lamar HuntÆs name in 1999. Hunt is investor-operator of the Crew.
The Guatemalan Garcia, a midseason acquisition, scored the winner in the 30th minute. He shot home from close-range after Galaxy keeper Matt Reis parried a Brian West cross into GarciaÆs path at the edge of the goal area.
The victory was the CrewÆs first major title in its seven-year history and earned it the final U.S. Soccer berth for the 2003 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The Crew earned a $100,000 prize for the title. L.A. walks away with $50,000.
Los Angeles' starting lineup featured three changes from the team that took the field in its 1-0 MLS Cup win over New England last Sunday. Reis started in goal instead of Kevin Hartman. Midfielder Pete Vagenas started and Mauricio Cienfuegos came in off the bench. And Chris Albright started at forward instead of Alejandro Moreno.
2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Final
Oct. 24 in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus 1 Los Angeles 0. Goal: Garcia (West) 30. Columbus — Busch, Clark, McCarty, Oughton, Maisonneuve (Warzycha, 89), Cunningham (Washington, 89), Dunseth, Garcia (Torres, 81), Denton, West (Martino, 65), McBride.
Los Angeles — Reis, Hendrickson, Califf, Lalas (Cienfuegos, 76), Marshall, Albright (Moreno, 59), Vagenas (Mullan, 86), Victorine, Elliott, Jones, Ruiz.
Yellow cards: Columbus — Clark 43, McCarty 48, McCarty 83. Los Angeles — Ruiz 8.
Red card: McCarty 83.
Referee: Brian Hall.
Att.: 6,054.