COLUMBUS – The Columbus Crew kicked off their 2026 Leagues Cup campaign against Atlas FC, with the Black & Gold claiming all three points in a 3-1 win at Scotts Miracle-Gro Field. Cesar Ruvalcaba, Sean Zawadzki, and Brais Mendez scored for the Crew, with an own goal by Zawadzki, set up by former Crew defender Milton Valenzuela, giving Atlas their lone goal of the match. 

Columbus started slow, allowing the visitors to generate multiple threatening attacks, but stood their ground defensively to nullify any goal-scoring opportunity. 

The Crew got the scoring started in the 29th minute with Ruvalcaba notching his second first-team goal. Columbus earned a corner that Atlas soon cleared, but it found its way back to the foot of Dylan Chambost. His cross to the back post was met with the rising header from Ruvalcaba to put it past Camilo Gil. 

The Black & Gold soon settled into the match, generating opportunity after opportunity and pinning Atlas’ defenders in their own half. 

Columbus doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time when Taha Habroune sent in a corner kick over the masses and found a diving Zawadzki at the back post to claim the goal just before the break. 

“The margins are so thin, right? We [rethought] a little bit the way we put the guys in situations in training – more by mini-groups and more of everybody experiences the setups, not only the guys that are about to start the game. We try to play with that, and lately, it’s working. Let’s see in the next few weeks. We revisited the way and the format of how we train it and being a little bit more specific on the type of picks, areas to aim, and the kickers. Good.” – Columbus Crew interim head coach Laurent Courtois

Just six minutes after the second half started, Mendez got his first Leagues Cup goal and his second in as many matches for the Crew to extend the lead to 3-0. Mendez became the 12th player in Crew history to have goals in back-to-back matches after making their debut. 

Atlas got their goal in the 67th minute when Valenzuela collected a pass over the top and squared it centrally, only to have it deflect off Zawadzki and into the back of the net. 

The visitors controlled the majority of the second half after their goal, with Columbus absorbing a lot of the pressure and heavy attack thrown at them. 

“Yeah, showed resilience, leadership and solidarity and not reckless defending where you panic and you give PKs. You certainly don’t want to be in a 50/50 call with the referee. You never know in those type of moments. Even though we kind of absorbed/suffered, we did a good job of not panicking and being smart.” – Columbus Crew interim head coach Laurent Courtois

Columbus withstood the attack from Atlas to secure the win, giving them added motivation for their next game against Pachuca CF, a rematch of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup final.

The kids can play

With Interim Head Coach Laurent Courtois heavily rotating the squad from the Crew’s 2-2 draw against Inter Miami CF in league play, Courtois rolled out a starting lineup with an average age of 25.

Brais Mendez is him

Brais Mendez has scored in back-to-back matches after making his debut against Inter Miami CF and recording the equalizing goal. Mendez became the 12th player in Crew history to score on his debut.

What’s next?

The Columbus Crew host Pachuca CF in their second match of Phase One of the Leagues Cup. Kickoff from Scotts Miracle-Gro Field is set for 7:30 p.m. EDT. You can watch the match on Apple TV.