Maxime Crepeau on grueling return to MLS Cup: 'It's been a hell of a 12 months' | OneFootball

LAFC's Maxime Crepeau returns to the Major League Soccer Cup after “a hell of a 12 months” that saw the goalkeeper endure a grueling rehabilitation process to reclaim his spot in the team’s starting lineup.

Crepeau led the Western Conference team to insurmountable heights last season, recording 76 saves and nine clean sheets in 36 appearances to propel the Black and Gold to the Supporters’ Shield and 2022 MLS Cup final. He was indispensable.

On November 5, 2022, the player lined up to face the Philadelphia Union in the final. The Western Conference giants stood on the brink of their first league trophy, a goal set forth by every member of LAFC since joining MLS in 2018.

The Union made the path to glory a difficult one, tying the game 2-2 in the last minute to send the game into overtime. The tension at BMO Field was palpable. LAFC remained the favorites, but Daniel Gazdag and Jack Elliott continued to test Crepeau.

But in the 116th minute, everything changed for the Black and Gold. The starting goalkeeper collided with Cory Burke while attempting to stop a breakaway, bringing the game to a halt.

Medical staff rushed to the field, as supporters and players waited in silence. LAFC staff found Crepeau’s family in the stands, rushing them into the tunnels as the goalkeeper laid on the ground receiving help.

After several minutes, the player was finally loaded onto a cart and gave a thumbs up as the entire stadium cheered. Crepeau suffered a broken leg during the collision, ending his World Cup hopes and forcing a lengthy rehabilitation process before returning to the pitch halfway through the 2023 campaign.

“It’s been a hell of a 12 months, you know, going through the fact that I broke my leg, missing out on the World Cup and starting the process of rehab. There were ups and downs that is for sure,” Crepeau told 90min.

“But the most important thing right now is that I was able to join my team back again on the field and really express myself, and try to help the organization win games.”

John McCarthy took over for Crepeau while in rehabilitation, forcing a competition between the two for the starting role once the Canadian returned to the field. But on September 16, Crepeau edged out his teammate to start between the posts against LA Galaxy in one of the team’s biggest games of the year.

“I don't think there was one definitive moment that I can pinpoint. I believe it was just a start of getting an accumulation of small wins. But also, if I have to say one game, the first game that I was called to play was against Galaxy home, which was a huge win for us at that moment in the season,” he added.

“Then we went on the road to Saint Louis in Philly, which was really a big task for us. Then we came back home and stacked up some points and some wins.So I think that was really important for myself and for the team in order to enter the playoffs with momentum.”

The team defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps, Seattle Sounders and Houston Dynamo to reach their second consecutive MLS Cup. LAFC will now attempt to make history on December 9 by becoming back-to-back league champions and stand as one of just three MLS teams to complete the feat.