St. Louis City SC pulled off a championship win in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, topping the Crew in a brutal five-round penalty kick shootout that went down to the wire. What a night for soccer, even if it was a marathon at a sold-out ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. The tension was palpable as the two teams battled it out, ultimately needing penalties to decide who would lift the trophy.
A Nail-Biting Finish in Columbus
The championship showdown stretched into a gripping shootout, with St. Louis City SC ultimately winning 5-4. It was Daniel Edelman who stepped up in the fifth round and buried his goal, officially clinching the title for St. Louis. That final strike secured the U.S. Open Cup, ending a hard-fought contest that had Crew fans holding their breath and then, unfortunately, feeling the sting of defeat. Columbus had been chasing this Cup glory for 24 years, making the loss even tougher for their faithful supporters.
The Backup Goalie Who Became the Hero
The real story of this championship, though, has to be the performance of St. Louis’s 6-foot-6 goalkeeper, Ben Lundt. He wasn’t even the starting keeper. Roman Burki, the starter, went down with an injury in the 69th minute after making a save, forcing Lundt into the game late in the second half. And Lundt delivered! He made the *only* save of the entire shootout, stonewalling Santiago Rodriguez in the very first round. That single save made all the difference, setting the tone for St. Louis’s victory and cementing Lundt’s place in team history.
This was a championship for St. Louis City SC, a true test of grit and nerve, capped by an unexpected hero. What a way to win a title!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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