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Columbus Crew reach U.S. Open Cup final after 2, 1 win over Orlando

sportsSep 16, 202639403

Columbus Crew beat Orlando City 2-1 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal to reach the final. Josef Martínez scored his first goal for Columbus and Miguel Mendez restored a 2-1 lead in the 52nd minute after a pass from Santiago Rodríguez, Rodriguez’s second assist of the night. Orlando managed just three shots in the final 66 minutes, while Columbus relied on their designated players and team structure to close out the win at the new Crew stadium. The Crew will host the U.S. Open Cup final in Columbus on October 21 against the winner of the Colorado Rapids versus St. Louis CITY SC semifinal. This result keeps Columbus alive for a trophy in an otherwise difficult season and sets a home final for Crew supporters on Oct. 21.

U.S. Open Cup
@opencup.ussoccer.com

THE CREW ARE THROUGH. Columbus Crew is heading to the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final 👷‍♂️

3512h ago
Justin Horneker
@hornekerjustin.bsky.social

Happy US Open Cup semifinal day to all who celebrate

30Yesterday
Darby
@tokenliberal.bsky.social

It's official: @mattdoyle.bsky.social understands what it means to be a long-time #Crew96 fan.

Matt Doyle's MLS power rankings. They show Columbus Crew at 23rd, down five spots. Text says, "Okay fine they're bad. I won't let them fool me again."
25Yesterday
Darby8

(we will absolutely be fooled again)

Keith Naas3

If we aren’t winning the ball in midfield or able to cover opposing teams man-to-man, then the only option is scoring first to ensure that other teams are forced to stretch their lines for a goal. Even then, we would suck at that too.

scottfultz.bsky.social2

We have one CM that can both blow shit up and distribute* and he’s been hurt for a month. Everyone on the backline is better at defending space than a player. A mix is fine, all better at defending space is a recipe to never get a clean sheet.

Keith Naas
@knaas.bsky.social

We did it. The most important game of the #Crew96 season leads to the most important game of the Crew season.

2612h ago
Matt Baker
@mattbakerstl.bsky.social

Kickoff of the US Open Cup semifinals in Colorado. #AllForCITY contingent is 💪.

2312h ago
US Open Cup News
@thecup.us

#USOC2026 Semifinals: After a long summer break for the World Cup, the 2026 US Open Cup is ready to resume. Columbus Crew vs Orlando City SC - Two one-time champions. Colorado Rapids vs St. Louis CITY SC - two looking for a first. PREVIEW by @chucknolanjr.bsky.social: thecup.us/2026/09/14/2...

16Yesterday
Michael Arace
@michaelarace1.bsky.social

#Crew96 post a 2-1 victory over #OrlandoCity in a #USOpenCup semifinal here at the new Crew stadium. It feels like Quadrophenia, as the Crew have been so poor of late. Rain 'Oer Me. Tonight, they were very, very good, and their DPs showed up bigly. Final: vs. COLO/STL winner in CBus on Oct. 21.

2012h ago
Soccerwise
@soccerwisehq.bsky.social

Josef Martínez scores his first Columbus goal to put the Crew one step closer to the Open Cup final! @opencup.ussoccer.com

2014h ago
Stuart Hultgren
@stuarthultgren.bsky.social

It’s US Open Cup match day! Let’s GOOOOOOOO! Get hype!

20Yesterday
Rail enthusiast wife Daria
@dariaphoebe.com

Meeting a friend and her girlfriend and having them set you up entirely accidentally to watch a #crew96 win while on the wrong coast? Yeah that’s a win.

Photo of the TV with the match on early when the Crew was still up 1-0
1912h ago
Juanners
@juanners.bsky.social

My latest for Box State Footy. A US Open Cup preview. To say it's a must-win would be an understatement. #Rapids96 www.boxstatefooty.com/colorado-rap...

8Yesterday
Benjamin McKean
@blmckean.bsky.social

trying hard to think of another team that has burned its fans’ good will faster than the Columbus Crew, yeesh

Catch up quick: It's been a season without many highlights for Columbus. • They started the season winless in five games and fired new manager Henrik Rydström after a 3-7-4 start. • They've gone an even worse 3-7-1 under interim manager Laurent Courtois. Plus: Amid the losses is a dwindling number of fan favorites to cling to. • Last offseason, team captain and MIS legend Darlington Nagbe retired. • This summer, the club sold stars Max Arfsten and Diego Rossi and conceded that big-money midfielder Daniel Gazdag wasn't working out. Meanwhile, season ticket prices are up and the team messed up fans' season ticket renewal gift. Ownership also controversially acquired public parkland and $25 million in public dollars to help bring a pro women's
7Yesterday
Monica is so tired1

I never got my Crew garden gnome, dammit.

Quoting this
T.C. Aurelius 6

I can think of one but it's in a different sport. Coincidentally the same guy owns them.

Tony Galiffo
@galiffo.bsky.social

I don’t know what to make of this team but hey we’re are in a final. #Crew96

1412h ago
GCGBAG ☆☆☆
@gcgbag.com

If there’s one thing this team is bad at, it’s playing with a lead. So maybe this is a blessing in disguise? To be clear: there are a lot of things this team is bad at. Many other scenarios come to mind. But playing with a lead is one of them. #crew96

1114h ago
Tom Reed
@tomba1919.bsky.social

Biggest takeaway from #Crew96 victory: Columbus played like a spot in the Open Cup really mattered, while Orlando could not have looked less invested. Visitors mustered 3 shots over the final 66 minutes of the game. To be fair, credit belongs to the Crew’s structure and hustle.

1012h ago

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