With nine trophies in their history, the Columbus Crew are among the most successful teams in Major League Soccer, but it has been two years since their last trophy, as much of the team has shifted and wasn't involved in their last trophy, a Leagues Cup win in 2024. Now, as they gear up to host the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final on Wednesday against St.
Louis City SC (live on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network, 8 p.m. ET), it's a chance to salvage the season, and there are still players there who have experience winning, even in this competition. During the summer, forward Josef Martinez joined the club after what he described as a tough time with Club Tijuana in Liga MX.
While at the moment, it was a move that felt like it should be made leaving CF Montreal, sometimes those moves don't work out, but Martinez is also grateful to be with the Crew currently, where he has been able to get back to full fitness and have a chance to contribute now with the chance to win a trophy. "We have to recognize that this is an opportunity to turn on the little bit of a struggle season; this is the opportunity to win something," Martinez said. "I have had the opportunity to win one time; I lost one in Miami, and this is my third one.
So, it's special when you have a final. I don't remember how many players have the opportunity to play that." Martinez won the Open Cup with Atlanta United in 2018 while also capturing the Golden Boot, MLS Cup, and MVP awards all in that same season. Things haven't gone as expected recently with the Crew being his fifth team in the past three years but that doesn't mean that the 33-year-old Venezuelan doesn't have something to offer the squad both on and off the pitch as they look to secure their first trophy post-Wilfried Nancy.
And no matter what, that's a moment worth looking forward to. "A final is special, man. It's an opportunity to win something with the club.
That is the most important right now," Martinez said, summing up the occasion. This isn't something that the Crew will need extra motivation for, as when you're playing a sport that you love, the goal is to get to a moment like this. Martinez may have already etched his name in MLS history, but for many on the team, they'll be looking to him and Mendez to set an example on Wednesday.
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