NYCFC faces – New York City FC faces Columbus Crew for the second time in 11 days in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday night, with a new interim coach in play after Columbus sacked Henrik Rydstrom and replaced him with Laurent Courtois.
The first matchup between New York City FC and Columbus Crew didn’t just end on the scoreboard—it’s now coming back as a prelude to something bigger. On Wednesday night, NYCFC will face the Crew again in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal, another game with the same opponent but sharper stakes.
The timing matters. It’s only been 11 days since NYCFC and Columbus last met in Major League Soccer action at home. On May 10, the Pigeons defeated the Crew 3-0.
Now comes the cup round, and with it, a coaching change that has reshaped Columbus’s week. Henrik Rydstrom was sacked on Sunday and replaced by Laurent Courtois as interim head coach of the team. The Crew enter the moment listed as a 3-7-4 side.
NYCFC coach Pascal Jansen acknowledged the uncomfortable reality of a game that lands amid disruption. “That’s a tricky one because … they changed coaches,” Jansen said during a Monday afternoon Zoom media call. “First of all, I feel for the coach who lost his job. We actually coached against each other in Europe when he was at Malmo and I was at Ferencvaros. So, I hope he’s okay and dealing with the setback in the right way.”.
He didn’t dwell there for long. For NYCFC, the focus is immediate: prepare for a different-looking Columbus without letting it blur what the Crew can do.
Jansen said he expects the same opponent to remain effective even as the sideline changes. “As for the game ahead, we’ll have to see,” he said. “I know Columbus’ away results are different from their home results. but for me. my staff. and our team. we generally see Columbus as a very strong roster and a very good team. Whatever happens in this cup game, we have to prepare ourselves to the maximum.”.
He tied the decision-making to the fact that both teams already know each other’s shape. “We played each other recently, so they know our strengths and the qualities of our squad. The same goes for us. We’re preparing for a good game with a lot at stake because our main focus is reaching the semifinal.”.
The Crew’s home and road numbers underline why NYCFC can’t rely on momentum alone. Columbus is 2-2-2 at home and 1-5-2 on the road.
Jansen also described how a one-off match changes the rhythm of soccer. “We believe we’re good enough to beat any team. regardless of where we play. so that won’t change. ” he said. “But the dynamics of this game are completely different because it’s a one-off match. That creates a different atmosphere and maybe a different type of pressure at times. Like I said, we have one thing on our minds, and that’s reaching the semifinal. That’s our only focus.”.
The match is set to be another test of familiarity—NYCFC and Columbus already played recently—but it’s also a point of departure. Columbus enters Wednesday night with Courtois running the interim bench after Rydstrom’s dismissal on Sunday. and NYCFC enters with a clear message: know the opponent. absorb the uncertainty. and chase the only outcome that matters—advancing to the semifinal.
NYCFC Columbus Crew Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal Pascal Jansen Henrik Rydstrom Laurent Courtois Wednesday night