U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals: Columbus Crew vs. New York City FC | OneFootball

After Tuesday night kicks off the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup, attention now turns to the second pair of games. Wednesday’s proceedings begin with an intriguing clash between a Columbus Crew team looking for a fresh start and a NYCFC side that just beat them 10 days ago.

This game can be watched on Paramount+ or the CBS Sports Golazo Network.

Crew In Need Of New Beginning Under Familiar Face

Columbus are coming into this cup tie with a new manager. Despite appointing Henrik Rydström this past offseason, the Crew felt they needed a change after a poor start to 2026.

They parted ways with the Swedish coach after a 1-1 draw with bottom of the league Philadelphia Union. In comes Laurent Courtois, who started his coaching career with Columbus Crew’s 2nd team (unless you count a very brief stint as player/coach with LA Galaxy II). He led Crew 2 to the inaugural MLS Next Pro championship in 2022 and the final in 2023. His work with them earned him the head coaching job at CF Montréal, where he lasted a little over a year. Courtois rejoined Columbus as an assistant coach for the first team under Rydström and will now step up into a new role as interim head coach.

The most interesting thing to see for the Crew will be what formation Courtois sets them up in. All signs point to a return to a 3-back for Columbus. That has been Courtois’ preferred defensive setup for his whole managerial career, playing a 3-4-3 with Crew 2 and a 3-4-2-1 with Montréal.

Columbus had success with the latter under former manager Wilfried Nancy, but Rydström had them lining up in a 4-4-2. It’s been clear this season that a 4-back doesn’t suit many of the Crew players. I’d bet on a 3-4-2-1 in this quarterfinal.

Regardless of how Courtois decides to set up tactically, he’ll need to find a way to keep Hugo Picard in good form. The diminutive Frenchman has found his footing in the States after a disappointing 2025. He’s scored a brace in both of the Crew’s Open Cup matches so far and also has 3 goal contributions in his last 4 MLS games, including the lone goal in Saturday’s draw with Philly. However, the only game in that stretch that he didn’t play well in was against NYCFC.

NYCFC Look To Repeat Recent Win Over Columbus

While the Crew will be hoping to change their fortunes, NYCFC want more of the same. They’ve been in pretty solid form in MLS, winning back to back matches before the Hudson River Derby draw this past weekend. The Pigeons have jumped into 5th place in the East after this hot streak. NYCFC actually have Columbus to thank for their recent results. Before their 3-0 win over the Crew on May 10th, they were on a 7 game winless run in league play.

In that resounding victory, Austrian winger Hannes Wolf was the star man. He scored a hat trick to ensure the win, his first goals in over a month. Wolf was taken off at halftime over the weekend so he’ll be well-rested for this match. That 3-0 win was a big one for NYCFC’s defense as well. It was only their second clean sheet of the season, but in the following match they recorded another one in a 1-0 shutout of Charlotte. Goalkeeper Matt Freese made 2 saves in both of those and another 4 in the derby. The USMNT #1 is finding his form just in time for the World Cup.

Match Prediction

The new manager bounce is real and I do expect Columbus to look better in this game than they have recently, but will it be enough to take down a team they just lost 3-0 to? It’ll be close, but I think it just might. NYCFC will feel the loss of playmaker Maxi Moralez. He was stretchered off Saturday night and the attack will sputter as a result. A renewed Crew team in a more suitable formation will capitalize on that, getting the job done in extra time.

Prediction: Columbus Crew 2-1 NYCFC (after extra time)