Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM EDT
Venue: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field (formerly Lower.com Field), Columbus, Ohio (capacity approximately 20,000–20,371)
This is a single-leg semifinal. The winner advances to the Final on October 21 (potentially in Columbus if the Crew advance, based on the tournament draw). Both clubs are former Open Cup champions: Columbus (2002) and Orlando (2022). The match will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network and stream on Paramount+.
Current Weather Forecast (Columbus, OH)
Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening (around 30% chance of precipitation). High near 88–90°F (humid, with heat index potentially higher), light southwest winds. Conditions should be warm and playable, with possible late-day thunderstorm risk that could affect the evening kickoff. Lows around 70–71°F.
Current Player Rosters
Columbus Crew SC (head coach Laurent Courtois)
Goalkeepers: Patrick Schulte, Nicholas Hagen, Evan Bush.
Defenders: Sean Zawadzki, Malte Amundsen, Steven Moreira, Eric Bailly, Brooks Lennon, Andrés Herrera (questionable), Cesar Ruvalcaba, others.
Midfielders: Brais Méndez, André Gomes, Dylan Chambost, Santiago Rodríguez, Taha Habroune, Amar Sejdić, Mohamed Farsi, others.
Forwards/Attackers: Josef Martínez, Gonzalo Tapia, Jamal Thiaré, Lautaro Giaccone, Anass Zaroury (recent addition noted in some reports), Chase Adams, others.
Orlando City SC (interim/associated coaching under Martín Perelman context in recent reports)
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crépeau, Javier Otero.
Defenders: David Brekalo, Robin Jansson, Griffin Dorsey, Adrián Marín (questionable), Iago Teodoro, Nolan Miller, Zakaria Taifi, others.
Midfielders: Martín Ojeda, Eduard Atuesta, Luis Otávio, Iván Angulo, Joran Gerbet, Wilder Cartagena, others.
Forwards: Antoine Griezmann, Daryl Dike, Justin Ellis, Tiago, Tyrese Spicer, Marco Pašalić, others.
Listed Injury Reports
Columbus Crew: Wessam Abou Ali (knee, out), Sekou Bangoura (ankle, out), Rudy Camacho (foot, out). Andrés Herrera (back, questionable).
Orlando City: Braian Ojeda (foot, out — surgery earlier). Adrián Marín (thigh, questionable).
Availability can shift; check official team reports closer to kickoff.
Recent Team Forms
Columbus Crew: Struggled in MLS form after the World Cup break/Open Cup quarterfinals (noted as stagnant with limited wins in a stretch of games, including a recent 0-1 home loss to New York Red Bulls). They advanced in the Open Cup with solid results earlier (including a 1-0 quarterfinal win over NYCFC). Home form at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field remains a strength in cup ties.
Orlando City: Showing better recent momentum in MLS, including a 3-0 win over Toronto FC and other positive results. Strong Open Cup path (defeated New England, FC Naples, and Atlanta United 4-1 in the quarters). They sit mid-table in the Eastern Conference but enter the semifinal with attacking confidence, boosted by Antoine Griezmann’s contributions.
Series History / Head-to-Head
The teams met once in the 2026 MLS regular season (1-1 draw in Columbus on April 12). All-time, meetings have been competitive, with Orlando holding a slight edge in some historical samples across competitions, though Columbus has home success in cup settings. Both have deep Open Cup pedigrees.
Key Player vs Player Matchups
Antoine Griezmann / Martín Ojeda (Orlando attack) vs Columbus back line (Zawadzki, Amundsen, Moreira): Griezmann has been highly productive since joining; Ojeda is a primary creator/scorer. Columbus’s organized defense will be tested.
Brais Méndez / Santiago Rodríguez / Josef Martínez (Columbus creators/finishers) vs Orlando midfield/defense (Atuesta, Brekalo, Jansson, Dorsey): Méndez provides quality in advanced areas; Martínez offers clinical finishing experience against Orlando’s back line.
Patrick Schulte (Columbus GK) vs Maxime Crépeau (Orlando GK): Both reliable shot-stoppers in high-stakes games.
Midfield control: André Gomes/Dylan Chambost vs Eduard Atuesta/Iván Angulo — battle for possession and transitions will be decisive.
MATCH ODDS
Orlando City SC + 160
Columbus Crew SC – 135
Draw + 325
Over 2.5 – 145 Under 2.5 + 115
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, September 15, 2026
