St. Louis City secured their first major trophy on Wednesday night, winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after a tense 0-0 draw that went 120 minutes and ended with a penalty shootout victory over the Columbus Crew. The absolute hero of the night? Backup goalkeeper Ben Lundt, who stepped into the game cold and delivered the decisive save that sealed a historic win for St. Louis.
From the Bench to the Winner’s Circle
The match was a grinding affair, with both teams battling to a scoreless deadlock through regulation and extra time. But the real drama kicked off in the 78th minute when St. Louis’s starting goalkeeper, Roman Bürki, took a knee to the head while making a save. Bürki had to be carted off the field, waving to the crowd as he went, and in came Lundt for only his fourth appearance of the season. Talk about being thrown into the fire.
When it came down to penalties, Lundt wasted no time making his presence felt. Timo Baumgartl put St. Louis up 1-0 on their first kick. Then, it was Lundt’s moment. He dove to his left, got a hand on Santiago Rodriguez’s shot, and watched it deflect off the post. That one save gave St. Louis the edge they needed. From there, it was a clinic, with St. Louis going 5 for 5 in the shootout, capped by Daniel Edelman’s shot right down the middle as Columbus goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen went the wrong way. Lukas MacNaughton, Chris Durkin, and Damion Downs also converted their kicks, ensuring St. Louis would not be denied their first taste of silverware.
History Made and a New Path Forged
This win isn’t just a trophy; it’s a statement. It’s the first major trophy in St. Louis City club history, and it means they’ve earned a spot in the 2027 CONCACF Champions Cup. Columbus, on the other hand, was looking for their second U.S. Open Cup title, but it just wasn’t meant to be. This final was also the first U.S. Open Cup to go to penalties since Sporting Kansas City beat the Philadelphia Union back in 2015. While the USOC is open to both professional and amateur clubs, Major League Soccer teams have consistently dominated the competition for over two decades.
For St. Louis, celebrating their first major trophy and knowing they’re heading to the CONCACF Champions Cup in 2027, the future looks bright. What a moment for the club, kickstarted by a backup keeper who became an instant legend.
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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