With nine trophies in their history, the Columbus Crew rank among Major League Soccer’s most accomplished clubs. However, it has been two years since their last title, a Leagues Cup victory in 2024, and many of the players from that era have since moved on. As the Crew prepare 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), the match represents a chance to salvage a difficult campaign. Still, several veterans remain who have tasted victory in this very competition.
Forward Josef Martinez joined Columbus during the summer after a challenging spell with Club Tijuana in Liga MX. He described the move from CF Montréal as a decision that “felt right” at the time, acknowledging that transfers do not always succeed. Martinez, however, says he is grateful to be back in form with the Crew, where he has regained full fitness and now feels poised to make a meaningful impact in pursuit of 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 previously captured the 2018 U.S. Open Cup with Atlanta United, also earning the Golden Boot, MLS Cup, and MVP honors that season. After stints with several clubs—including his current stint with Columbus, his fifth in three years—he said the Crew’s recent changes have not diminished his desire to contribute both on and off the pitch. The 33‑year‑old Venezuelan is seen as a key veteran as Columbus seeks its first trophy under manager Wilfried Nancy.
“A final is special, man. It’s an opportunity to win something with the club. That is the most important right now,” Martinez added, encapsulating the occasion.
This isn’t a match the Crew will need extra motivation for; playing a sport they love makes reaching a final inherently rewarding. While Martinez has already made his mark in MLS history, many teammates look to his leadership and experience—earned since arriving at Atlanta to prove himself and earning the nickname “El Rey” (The King)—to set an example on Wednesday. Even at his age, he remains a forward who can strike fear into opponents, despite St. Louis’s unbeaten streak of 22 straight games.
“We’re professional,” Martinez said. “We know what the game is; we know what the situation is right now. And we know that is important. We have to go there and play soccer and fight. That’s most important. We play soccer. We don’t play any other sport. We have pressure; but they have pressure too. So, I think who makes fewer mistakes, they can have the opportunity to win.”
Martinez’s ability to handle pressure is a valuable asset for a Crew side that has undergone significant roster changes. Columbus currently sits 11th in the Eastern Conference and may miss the playoffs, making this final a potential turning point for the season. Meanwhile, St. Louis City SC has never appeared in a final, so the pressure will be mutual. Martinez’s proven scoring instincts could prove decisive in what promises to be a hard‑fought contest.
“Yeah, we’re happy [to be in the final], man. When we score, we strikers want to score every game,” Martinez said. “And we get frustrated when we can’t do that. But it’s a game. We have to be ready for all of this. And that will be a tough game because they are a really good team.”
With his leadership and experience, Martinez expects the Crew to be prepared for the challenge. Hosting the final before a home crowd offers an ideal scenario for both him and Columbus to rediscover their best form. It’s a chance they can ill afford to pass up in what figures to be an excellent showdown.