New York City FC's 2026 US Open Cup run came to an end with a 1-0 quarterfinal defeat to the Columbus Crew on Wednesday night at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
NYCFC lacked creativity and struggled to contain Columbus, as Matt Freese had to make seven saves, though he wasn't able to stop Max Arfsten's game-winning goal in the 59th minute.
This marks the third time New York City has fallen in the quarterfinals of the Open Cup, and it's also the 12th straight time the club has failed to win away at Columbus.
New York City: 5 shots, 0 shots on target, 40% possession, 434 passes, 86% pass accuracy, 13 fouls, 4 corners, 7 saves
Columbus: 14 shots, 8 shots on target, 60% possession, 655 passes, 89% pass accuracy, 7 fouls, 3 corners, 0 saves
Goals:
• Columbus, Max Arfsten, 59'
The injuries pile on
NYCFC took a hit before a ball was kicked on Wednesday night.
Keaton Parks, who was initially named in the starting lineup, was replaced by Jonathan Shore after picking up a groin injury in warmups. Parks had started the last three MLS games and seemed back to full fitness after recovering from the season-ending surgery he had to address blood flow issues in his right leg last July.
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Add Parks' name to the rest of New York City's injured players — Drew Baiera, Talles Magno, Alonso Martínez, Maxi Moralez, Max Murray, Aiden O'Neill, and Kevin O'Toole — and the depth gets even thinner.
Moralez was the most recent addition to the list before Wednesday, as the 39-year-old playmaker picked up what looks like a serious knee injury in the last game against Red Bull New York.
Against Columbus, he was replaced in the No 10 spot by Andrés Perea, who made his first start since November 7, 2025 — the night when he fractured his right leg.
NYCFC can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing they have one more game before the two-month break for the FIFA World Cup, which is a good amount of time for most of their injured players to recover and return healthy in late July.
New York Soccer Journal
Lifeless without Moralez
It was always going to be hard to replace Moralez.
Since returning from the ACL tear he suffered in 2023, the 39-year-old totaled 25 assists in 82 appearances and aged like fine wine, starting every MLS game last season. This year, he's appeared in all but one match, recording nine assists in 15 appearances.
Although the extent of Moralez's knee injury is unknown, he's expected to be out for some time. And if Perea is going to be the replacement at the No 10 spot, New York City will need to find new ways to create chances.
NYCFC put none of their five shots on target, totaled 14 touches in the Columbus box, and missed their only big chance of the night, when a nice bit of combination play teed up a shot from Perea that rolled just wide of the post.
It's also fair to say New York City should've had a penalty after Rudy Camacho's clear handball, but the VAR Allen Chapman did not send referee Marcos de Oliveira to the monitor to take a look.
#NYCFC go down 1-0 about five minutes after this clear handball from Rudy Camacho. This tournament has VAR, why not use it for a situation like this? https://t.co/VHeYcWcIMg pic.twitter.com/dBX7WtLbPB
— Matthew Mangam (@MatthewMangam) May 21, 2026
NYCFC has one more game, a fourth straight on the road before the two-month break, facing the high-flying Nashville SC on Saturday night at GEODIS Park.
• New York City, Arnau Farnós, yellow card, 79'
Officials
• Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
• Assistant referees: Walt Heatherly, Mike Nickerson
• Fourth official: Atahan Yaya
• VAR: Allen Chapman
• Assistant VAR: Mike Kampmeinert
