Preview: Kickers Face MLS Side Columbus Crew in Open Cup Action

What is the Open Cup? – The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout cup competition in men’s American soccer. It is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States. What makes it exciting is that it pits teams from all levels of U.S. soccer against each other. Amateur teams, if they make far enough, could end up facing top-level (MLS) professional teams. MLS teams have dominated the competition since the league began play in 1996. No lower division team has won the U.S. Open Cup since the Rochester Rhinos in 1999, and none have reached the final since the Charleston Battery in 2008. Our very own Richmond Kickers won the Open Cup in 1995, and in 2011 the Kickers went on the road and beat two MLS teams, the Columbus Crew and Sporting KC. They fell to the Chicago Fire in the semi-final.

Opponent:  Columbus Crew (MLS)
Date/Time: Wednesday, April 15th  7:30 PM
Last Result: Road loss Against Spokane 3-1

Weather Forecast from Weatherbug.com

It’s gonna be a hot one.

Three Things to Kick About

1. Injuries – The bad news is that the Kickers are missing two key pieces in their defense, with both Sam Layton and Sean Vinberg. This showed on Saturday and the Kickers gave up 3 goals on defensive lapses. The good news (not that a serious injury is good) is that the Columbus Crew are missing striker, Wessam Abou Ali.  He is out the remainder of the 2026 MLS season after tearing his ACL and meniscus in his right knee during the 1-1 draw with Orlando City on April 12, 2026. The 27-year-old Designated Player, who had scored 5 goals in 7 games, will undergo surgery.
2. Goals – The Kickers continue to struggle in front of the net. In four USL1 games the Kickers have only managed 2 goals. Twenty-three players in USL1 have two or more goals. Columbus Crew who sit in 11th place out of 15 have scored 9 goals in 7 games. This is an apples to oranges comparison but a team that competes in MLS is not going to have much problems with a USL1 defense missing two key players.
3. History – As mentioned above the Kickers beat the Crew in 2011 and were the first professional team to score in the Crews at the time brand new stadium. More recently the Kickers have played DC United and Charlotte FC. The Kickers were in both those games for the first half before the wheels came off and the MLS teams should their true colors. Long winded way of saying the Kickers have a chance just not a large one.

Prediction

It would be foolish to predict anything but a Columbus Crew blow out. If the Kickers give up 3 goals against a team in their same league it’s scary to think what an MLS team will do against them. Miracles do happen and if you want to look for a sliver of hope the Crew played on Sunday so they will be more tired. Also they have a history of reaching down to their lower league farm team and deep into their bench. It will likely be enough.

Columbus Crew – 4
Kickers – 0