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Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
- Be brave in possession
Columbus has to play their game. That means being brave on and off the ball - play out of the back, get wingbacks high, and counter press quickly when the ball is turned over. St. Louis City are a very difficult team to play against, but Columbus has to stick to what makes them good. The midfielders and center backs will have to be fearless in their passing to beat the press. Amundsen and Moreira in particular are crucial in drawing oppositions forward before finding a splitting pass to break the game open for Columbus. In midfield, Habroune is the Crew's best progressor of the ball. Primarily, this is by driving forward on the dribble. He's such a natural with the ball at his feet, and picks up great positions between opponents' lines. At the young age of 20, Habroune will have to be brave and rise to the moment in this final. Another important aspect to Columbus' proactive approach is the positioning of their wingbacks. Both of these clubs use wingbacks, and in both they are essential parts of how they attack. Columbus' wingbacks need to stay high and wide to pin back their opposite numbers. While this risks leaving them open, it's a necessary tradeoff because of what Farsi and Zaroury bring to Columbus in the final third. If Columbus play on the front foot and are courageous in possession, they will give themselves a chance to hoist the US Open Cup for the first time in 24 years.
- Get Santiago Rodríguez and Brais Méndez involved
The second key to the game is to get Santiago Rodríguez and Brais Méndez involved early and often. These two playmakers can break the game open, so it's important for Columbus to get them the ball in good spots. We saw it in the semifinal against Orlando: Rodríguez set up both goals with deliciously shaped balls into the box, and Méndez made an intelligent run to calmly finish one of those off. With the wingbacks providing the width, Rodríguez and Méndez have license to find the game. Against a tenacious St. Louis midfield, locating them in dangerous areas will be difficult. This is where the Crew's midfielders, like Habroune, need to step up and be incisive in their passing. This will allow Rodríguez and Méndez to get on the ball in good spots and make things happen for the Columbus attack. If Rodríguez and Méndez are able to impact the game, Columbus will score goals.
- Be physical
It's a cup final - it will be physical and aggressive. This is especially true against a St. Louis City side that loves to get stuck in and make life miserable for their opponents. So, Columbus will have to be combative, particularly in midfield and the backline. Captain Sean Zawadzki will be a huge part of this. He sets the tone with his play for the Crew, and it's more important than ever that he does so against Simon Becher, who relishes battling with opposition center backs. Zawadzki will have to be prepared to battle right back, being strong in his duels. He's played every minute in MLS play for the Crew and has been immense in the back, chipping in with heroic tackles and blocks all season long. He will once again be crucial in leading his side defensively in the biggest of occasions.
What would a US Open Cup win mean for Columbus Crew?
What would a US Open Cup win mean for Columbus Crew?
Winning the US Open Cup would be momentous for every part of this club. With the final being in Columbus, it's a chance to lift a trophy in front of their home fans. There is no better moment in sports than this. It would be Columbus' second US Open Cup and their 10th trophy overall, adding to the tremendous success they've had in the last decade. Going forward, it would be a big part in helping them add more titles to that list. Winning a rivalry match and then a US Open Cup would give Columbus all kinds of momentum heading into the last four matches of the season. It's hard to believe that they wouldn't make the playoffs if they are victorious tonight. Even if they end up missing out on the playoffs, it will still be a hugely successful season, and it will give all kinds of confidence to this group heading into next year. This goes for all levels of the club. Starting with the players, it would be proof that Brais Méndez and Santiago Rodríguez are foundational pieces of a championship caliber squad. Add that in with a healthy Wessam Abou Ali, and potentially more reinforcements in the winter, and this team could return to the east's elite. At a higher level, these players were signed by Issa Tall, who hasn't had quite the hit rate that his predecessor did in terms of key additions to the squad. This trophy would show that Tall is a GM who is capable of building one of the very organizations in the league. A US Open Cup triumph would presumably guarantee the full time manager job for Laurent Courtois, who is currently an interim. He has been a huge part of turning around this Columbus Crew team since he took over, and winning a trophy would be a priceless addition to his résumé as an emerging first time coach. Most importantly, it would be an unforgettable moment for the city, who has waited 24 years to lift this trophy.
St. Louis City
St. Louis City
- Start fast
It is going to be critical for St. Louis City SC to get the opening goal in this game. Since St. Louis began their unbeaten streak 22 matches ago, they scored the first goal in 18 of those. They start the game with a lot of intensity and are able to capitalize on their early chances. This lets them dictate how they want to play the game for the remainder of the match. It allows them to sit back and defend if they need to and enables them to attack methodically without committing too many numbers forward. Importantly, if St. Louis takes an early lead, they are going to have to keep their energy level high throughout the match. They have had some issues with protecting leads in the second half, which is a problem that Yoann Damet is going to have to remedy in big matches like this one. Making earlier subs is going to be key to maintaining a high intensity throughout this game.
- Simon Becher
St. Louis are going to be without Rafael Navarro, who is cup-tied due to his appearances for the Colorado Rapids, in this final. Without one of the league's very best attackers, Becher will have to step up. After an underwhelming start to the season, he's been really good of late. Since August, Becher has averaged scoring a goal every 107 minutes, a very respectable rate for the young attacker. It's not just his production that is going to be important. He is a relentless worker on and off the ball, proving to be a constant menace for opposing defenders to deal with. He will lead the team's pressure from the front, and how he sets the tone is going to be crucial for a team that thrives on being difficult to play against. He has been instrumental to St. Louis' run in the US Open Cup, and he will need to rise to the occasion again tonight.
- Win the midfield
This is perhaps the most crucial part of St. Louis' success, and it's something they are very very good at. This season, their system has been centered around Daniel Edelman and Chris Durkin in the midfield. The two of them are relentless defenders who are outstanding at breaking up plays and winning the ball back for their team. They have also leveled up in possession, being serviceable in cycling the ball around when St. Louis has the ball. However, Durkin was recently taken out of the lineup due to concerns of a concussion injury, so whoever lines up next to Daniel Edelman will have to be just as dominant in midfield if Durkin is unable to suit up for St. Louis. Winning the midfield battle will make it impossible for Columbus to build out and it will deny service to Columbus' playmakers. Edelman has been St. Louis' best player this season, and one of the best midfielders in the league this year, and he is going to have to be impressive again in this match if St. Louis are going to win the US Open Cup.
What would a US Open Cup win mean for St. Louis City?
What would a US Open Cup win mean for St. Louis City?
First and foremost, it would be the first trophy for St. Louis City SC. Yes, they topped the Western Conference in their debut season in the 2023 MLS season, but silverware is the ultimate goal for this club. Earning a trophy in just their fourth year would be a very exciting moment for this club, which is situated in one of the great soccer cities in the country. Not only is the club in its early years, but they've faced a lot of turnover. They have already cycled through 4 managers, including 2 interim managers, before landing on Yoann Damet. Under the Frenchman, St. Louis have established an identity and are an exciting team to watch. This would be a big step for a team with a first year head coach and a lot of players who have joined the club since the end of last season to announce themselves to the St. Louis City fanbase. A US Open Cup victory would mean a lot for the players, and it would reward their development with a trophy that they have deserved. Many of the players were acquired from other clubs or were part of this club's past seasons, but never really cemented themselves as elite players at their position. This season, players like Daniel Edelman, Timo Baumgartl, and more have evolved and grown into stars throughout the season, and now this has the possibility of culminating in a trophy. Winning would also be critical for St. Louis to head into the playoffs with momentum. Their 21 game unbeaten streak came to an end this weekend against Minnesota, and there might understandably be some fatigue with the fixture congestion and all the work that this team has put in to rise from the bottom of the western conference to the top. However, a huge win in the US Open Cup would keep the momentum and energy of this team high heading into the playoffs. For St. Louis City SC, the journey to get to this point in the season has already been a tremendous success story, and now they have the opportunity to add to it with a US Open Cup title.
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