St Louis City win US Open Cup after penalty shootout drama against Columbus
St Louis end 38-year wait for a major trophy
St Louis City claimed the US Open Cup for the first time, beating Columbus Crew 5-4 on penalties after a goalless final to deliver the city’s first major US soccer title since 1988. The victory also secures St Louis a place in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
Daniel Edelman scored the winning kick in the shootout, with substitute goalkeeper Ben Lundt setting up the chance to win by saving Columbus’ first attempt. St Louis had arrived at the final seeking to revive a city with a deep history in the competition: local clubs had lifted the trophy 10 times, most recently in 1988, long before St Louis City joined MLS in 2023.
A tense final turns on goalkeeper injuries
The teams played cautiously through a scoreless first half. Columbus became more assertive after the break and finished regulation with a 16-3 advantage in shots, but neither side found a goal. St Louis goalkeeper Roman Bürki kept out Columbus’ only shot on target before a collision during a dangerous attack left him needing medical attention.
After a lengthy review, the potential penalty from the sequence was not given. Bürki was taken off on a stretcher and replaced by Lundt, who was later reported by the CBS Sports broadcast to be “OK” and taken to hospital for evaluation. Lundt had already proved his value in the tournament, winning a quarter-final shootout against Houston.
Columbus also lost midfielder Taha Habroune to an apparent leg-muscle problem. The match continued through 11 minutes of stoppage time and then 30 minutes of extra time, but the deadlock held. In the shootout, Columbus’ Santi Rodríguez was denied by Lundt, who also came close to stopping Andrés Herrera’s effort. Both teams converted their next three kicks before Edelman settled the final.
Damet’s gamble pays off for St Louis
The triumph is a landmark for St Louis head coach Yoann Damet, 36, the youngest manager in MLS. Damet had previously served as Wilfried Nancy’s top assistant at Columbus but was passed over when Nancy left. St Louis’ opponents later chose Henrik Rydström as Nancy’s successor; after Rydström departed, Laurent Courtois took charge of the Crew.
St Louis were without striker Rafael Navarro, who was ineligible after representing Colorado Rapids earlier in the tournament. Even so, Damet’s team secured the club’s first trophy and a place in continental competition. The US Open Cup, first staged in 1913–14, was playing its 109th final.