The “magic” of the U.S. Open Cup exists because of desperation, but in the Ohio semifinals, Columbus Crew displayed why occasionally a bit of cold discipline is more important than desperation in winning a match. It was quite the erratic end of Orlando City’s 2026 Cup run at Scotts Miracle-Gro Field as the Lions suffered a 2-1 defeat in their bid to capture their second Open Cup final in history.
Right from the whistle, the Columbus Crew took control of the game. In just nine minutes of the match, Santiago Rodríguez played a perfect lofted ball for Josef Martínez, putting the crew ahead 1-0. Orlando chased shadows for the next thirty minutes before some individual magic brought hope back to the club’s fans.
In the 40th minute, Justin Ellis danced through the midfield, making his way toward goal before delivering a pass to Martín Ojeda, who promptly ripped a shot from distance to level the match at 1-1.
However, parity lasted for less than half of the second half as Brais Méndez made a smart run into space in the 52nd minute, volleying in another precise cross by Rodríguez. In the second half, Orlando changed their formation, introduced star forward Daryl Dike, and subbed out Antoine Griezmann, who appeared to have an injury, but they still couldn’t find another equalizer.
Orlando City lost because they slept at crucial stages of the match, especially in the first ten minutes of both halves. Being down 2-0 in the 52nd minute shows that Orlando’s back line is still having trouble resetting after coming out of the locker room. Meanwhile, Columbus won because they controlled the midfield. Santiago Rodríguez was arguably the best player of the match, creating two assists while completely running free in the half spaces of Orlando’s back four and midfield. Columbus managed to exploit the width better than Orlando City.
Unlike Columbus, Orlando mostly ran isolated plays and had moments of individual magic, such as Ellis’ run, but Columbus built a more cohesive and structured attack. Furthermore, Orlando’s big names were hushed before Dike’s introduction, as Griezmann had nothing to show before leaving the field in the 53rd minute.
Right at halftime, we rightly pointed out that while the fight put on by Ojeda and Ellis is something to admire, relying on long-range goals is not a good strategy in a knockout semifinal. There was a huge difference in midfield service between the teams; while Columbus had the maestro Rodríguez, Orlando’s attacking players were often left hungry for touches, and they looked completely disconnected.
Speaking to media after the game, interim coach Martín Perelman said that the result stung mostly because they convinced themselves that they would win this cup. However, his biggest point was the fact that the team needed to “process it quickly” since league matches would be happening in short order. He guaranteed the coaching staff would review the good and bad from the game, but there was no time to grieve.
Ojeda showed the same attitude. While scoring a magnificent equalizer, he clearly showed that he was frustrated. As a player who has been the key of Orlando City’s offense this season, putting the ball in the back of the net is useless if you give up the lead right after the restart of the second half.
This elimination may be a devastating emotional shock, but in a structural way, it makes Orlando have time to focus only on qualifying and having a deep run for the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The Lions currently occupy 6th place in the Eastern Conference standings and are close to breaking the record of the longest streak of participating in the postseason (7).
Is a deep playoff run possible? Yes, but with certain conditions.
The Orlando squad definitely has top-end talent. Crépeau is a great keeper, and the attacking front of Ojeda, Ellis, and Griezmann can outscore any opponent in the league on their best days. This scenario, of course, is only on paper. Interim Coach Martin Perelman must fix the transition defense, which is one of the worst in the league. Data backs that assessment. Otherwise, Orlando City will likely get knocked out of the tournament early, as opponents will continue to exploit space for playmakers like Santiago Rodríguez (Columbus Crew). The Lions have enough weapons to become a dark horse in the East, but to turn this cup disappointment into an MLS Cup joy, the team must display heart on the pitch throughout the 90 minutes and ruthless discipline tactically. Have they done that? Yes, but not consistently. Everyone knows that to win the MLS, you at least need consistency, scoring all your final third chances, winning most home games, and having a solid defense.
The Lions’ next test is coming up fast: a Saturday match against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. Another tough matchup.
Vamos Orlando!
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