St. Louis City Ends 38-Year Drought With US Open Cup Title
AI-generated image · US National Wire
The club secures the city's 11th title in history, defeating Columbus Crew in a penalty shootout.
St. Louis City captured the 109th US Open Cup title on Wednesday, defeating the Columbus Crew 5-4 on penalties, as The Guardian first reported. The victory marks the first trophy for the club since its 2023 founding and the 11th US Open Cup title for the city of St. Louis, ending a drought that began after the St. Louis Busch Seniors won the tournament in 1988.
In a physical match characterized by cautious play, St. Louis City was led by Yoann Damet, the 36-year-old Frenchman and the youngest manager in MLS. The Guardian reports that Columbus outshot St. Louis 16-3 over 90 minutes, but neither side could find the net. St. Louis backup goalkeeper Ben Lundt entered the match in the second half after starter Roman Bürki was stretchered off following a collision with wing-back Anass Zaroury. Lundt proved decisive in the shootout, saving the first attempt from Columbus and eventually securing the win after Daniel Edelman scored the final penalty.
Beyond the trophy, the win earns St. Louis City a spot in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. The Guardian notes that the US Open Cup, which began in 1913–14, has historically been dominated by amateur and semi-pro teams before MLS teams won nearly every title starting in 1996. The match featured several key players, including Brais Méndez and Damion Downs for St. Louis, and Santi Rodríguez, Andrés Herrera, and Taha Habroune for Columbus.