COLUMBUS – It’s four goals in two games for Hugo Picard, as his first-half brace helped push the Columbus Crew past One Knoxville SC in a commanding 4-1 victory at Scotts Miracle-Gro Field Wednesday night. In a match where squad rotation met opportunity, Columbus delivered a professional performance, blending experienced attacking quality with a breakthrough moment from one of the Club’s own academy prospects.

From the opening whistle, the Crew asserted control through possession and tempo, stretching Knoxville’s defensive block with patient buildup and quick switches of play. The breakthrough came through Hugo Picard, who continued his strong cup form with a well-taken finish from inside the box that deflected off of a Knoxville player and into the back of the net past Jonathan Burke.

Knoxville responded with a goal of their own right after the ensuing kickoff, with Braudilio Rodrigues heading home a rebounded shot past Nicholas Hagen to level the match 1-1. This would be the only shining point for the visitors, but they still created chances throughout the match; they just couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities.

Picard regained the lead for Columbus, scoring a mere similar goal to his first to give Columbus a 2-1 lead in the 23rd minute. A right-footed shot from the center of the box to the top left corner was deflected yet again past Burke, giving Picard four goals scored in just two U.S. Open Cup matches.

“What I really like is that he challenges his opponent,” said head coach Henrik Rydström. “He missed some situations in the beginning, but he just keeps going.”

In the second half, Columbus maintained territorial dominance, dictating rhythm through the midfield and limiting Knoxville’s ability to build sustained pressure. Daniel Gazdag added a third goal with his right-footed shot from just outside the box, curling his shot to the back post and past an outstretched Burke. The strike effectively put the contest out of reach and reflected the type of clinical presnece has been searching for in recent league play.

The night’s most memorable moment arrived late, when Columbus Crew academy product Chase Adams found the back of the net for his first goal with the senior team. The young forward collected a pass from fellow academy product Taha Habroune and hammered his shot to the far post to make the score 4-1. Adams missed an opportunity just before, so capitalizing on this chance saw redemption for the star striker of the United States Youth National Team.

“You always remember the first one in many areas in life. If I can say something about Chase, also, he’s an amazing kid,” said Rydström. “Sometimes you forget he’s just 18-years old because he’s very mature and he always puts in the hard work.

“What I also liked, yeah he scored a goal, but what was not nice but interesting because he missed a big chance like one minute before. Another player would maybe hide away, but we wont it back, he wanted it and he did better in the next situation, and that’s what you want to see.”

For a Club that has emphasized player development and pathway integration, Adams’ goal symbolized more than just a fourth tally–it was a statement of organizational depth and belief in its system.

With the 4-1 result, Columbus advances to the quarterfinal stage of the Open Cup, carrying momentum and renewed attacking confidence. The blend of established contributors like Picard and Gazdag with emerging talent such as Adams underscores the squad’s versatility as they continue their pursuit of domestic silverware.