A shootout decided by the substitutes
After a goalless extra period, the US Open Cup final was settled from the spot, with both sides relying on goalkeepers who had come off the bench. Ben Lundt, introduced after Roman Bürki was forced off following a collision with Anass Zaroury, denied Santiago Rodríguez on Columbus's first attempt. St. Louis never surrendered that edge, converting all five of its penalties, and Daniel Edelman sealed the 111th edition of the tournament with the final kick.[S1]
Edelman's decisive penalty went straight down the middle, and the outlet named him the man of the match for the moment. Lundt, described as the hero when his side needed him most, was credited with the only save of the shootout after replacing the injured Bürki.[S1]
A first half short on chances
Columbus controlled the tempo early and kept St. Louis from creating much, though the hosts struggled to turn their possession into clear openings. Late in the first half, Mohamed Farsi struck an effort against the post, with a diving Bürki helping it stay out, and the teams went to the interval level. The referee blew for halftime promptly after the 45th minute, with no added time.[S1][S2]
St. Louis held roughly 60 percent of the ball across the opening half-hour but did not manage a shot, according to the Guardian's account. Columbus tried to work the ball forward for Brais Méndez but could not seriously test Bürki's goal before the break.[S2]
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Columbus press, St. Louis hold
After halftime Columbus tilted the field sharply, recording 11 touches in St. Louis's box before the visitors managed one. Bürki kept the hosts' only on-target effort out, and St. Louis responded by fouling more often to disrupt the Crew's rhythm. In the 69th minute Santi Rodríguez was brought down from behind by Carlo Holse, but the referee played the advantage; Méndez carried the loose ball across the top of the box and fed Anass Zaroury, whose shot was blocked by Bürki as the goalkeeper took a blow to the head.[S2]
History and a place in 2027
St. Louis clubs dominated the Open Cup for much of the 20th century, with six different sides combining for 10 titles, the last in 1988 when the St. Louis Busch Seniors beat Greek-American AC of San Francisco. The city had no MLS club until 2023, and club figures had spoken from the start about returning St. Louis to soccer prominence. The win ends a 38-year wait for a major US soccer title and secures a spot in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.[S2]
The triumph caps a historic season for St. Louis, which earlier this month set an MLS record with a 21-match unbeaten run across all competitions under first-year head coach Yoann Damet. The 36-year-old Frenchman had previously served as Wilfried Nancy's top assistant in Columbus but was passed over for the top job there after Nancy left. Wednesday's match was the 109th final in the competition's history; the Open Cup began in 1913–14 and has run continuously apart from a two-year pause during the Covid-19 pandemic.[S1][S2]
