Crew Beat Orlando 2-1 to Reach U.S. Open Cup Final at Home
Josef Martinez and Brais Mendez scored as Columbus advanced to host St. Louis CITY SC on October 21.
Columbus punched its ticket to the U.S. Open Cup final the hard way, then kept the silverware path at home.
The Crew beat Orlando City 2-1 in the semifinals at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field on Wednesday night, September 16, 2026, and advanced to host the final on October 21 against St. Louis CITY SC. It is Columbus's first Open Cup final appearance since 2010, and a chance at the club's first title in the tournament since 2002.
Details in this story draw from MLS's report on the Crew's Open Cup final berth.
How the semifinal broke
Josef Martinez opened the scoring in the ninth minute after summer arrival Santiago Rodriguez found him at the back post off a corner. Orlando leveled in the 40th through Martin Ojeda, who finished from the edge of the box. Brais Mendez restored the lead in the 52nd, latching onto a lobbed service from Rodriguez and finishing first-time from about 10 yards. Rodriguez assisted both Crew goals.
Mendez, signed this summer as a Designated Player from Real Sociedad, now has a growing highlight reel in black and gold. Rodriguez's two helpers made him the night's connector. For a Crew side that has struggled more in MLS league play, the Open Cup run has become the clearest trophy path of 2026.
What the final means
St. Louis CITY SC reached the other side of the bracket by beating the Colorado Rapids 3-0. Columbus will host that final on October 21 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. The Open Cup champion earns a 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup berth along with prize money and the trophy itself.
For supporters, the practical takeaway is calendar math. Mark October 21, watch ticket and entry details from the club, and treat the final as a home showcase rather than a neutral-site trek. The semifinal already proved the summer signings can decide knockout nights.
Where to plant yourself in the city
Match-day culture around Columbus soccer still rewards a plan. Start with our first-timer sports and game-day guide for bars, parking logic, and how Crew nights fit beside Ohio State and Blue Jackets calendars. Venue context lives on Historic Crew Stadium for the older Lower.com / Crew stadium story, while citywide sports listings sit under Things to Do: Sports. Neighborhood logistics for downtown and Arena District spillover start at Arena District.
The Crew are 90 minutes from lifting Open Cup silverware again. Orlando is done. St. Louis comes to Columbus in October.
