The Columbus Crew opened up Leagues Cup play with a 3-1 victory over Liga MX club Atlas FC on Aug. 4, giving the club a +2 goal differential and a strong start to tournament play.
Brais Mendez, who salvaged a point for the Crew with a free kick goal in his first appearance against Inter Miami, entered in the second half to score the third goal of the match in the 51st minute.
Despite deploying a lineup with many non-regular starters, the Crew jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half with goals from Cesar Ruvalcaba and Sean Zawadski. Ruvalcaba's goal was the second of his Crew career.
"One of the biggest things we're happy with is the way we were able to integrate young and new players, managing the load, and getting some rest for some others,
so that's a big positive today,” said interim head coach Laurent Courtois."
After the three-goal head start, Atlas applied pressure quickly and scored after Sean Zawadski caused an own goal in the 67th minute. Despite just six shots and a dip in possession during the second half, the Crew hung on to their two-goal lead for the rest of the contest.
"We need to keep the width of the field, and also not forget to stretch the line and synchronize from behind. Because if not, we're going to become too predictable," Courtois said.
Read below to see highlights from the Leagues Cup match at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
Final Stats: Columbus Crew 3, Atlas FC 1
09:52 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan Aulbach- Shots: Atlas 13, Crew 6
- Shots on target: Crew 5, Atlas 2
- Possession: Crew 46.3%, Atlas 53.8%
- Corners: Crew 3, Atlas 4
- Yellow cards: Crew 2 (Chase Adams 36', Tarun Karumanchi 55'), Atlas 1 (Rodrigo Schlegel, 61')
(80') Atlas putting on the pressure
09:34 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachWith 10 minutes of regular time remaining, Atlas is playing much faster and with urgency. They have overtaken the Crew in shots (10 to 6) and possession (51% to 48%) and continue to attempt long crosses in the attacking third.
To get some fresh legs, Amar Sejdic has replaced Dylan Chambost.
(67') Atlas FC breaks through to cut Crew lead to 3-1
09:22 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachThis post was updated.
Ryan Mmaee, who plays for Morocco internationally, broke through in the box to score the first goal for Atlas. Up 3-1, Crew possession has dipped to 51.5%.
Moments later, the goal was updated to an own goal against defender Sean Zawadski.
(60') Habroune, Picard out, Giaccone, Farsi in
09:15 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachLautauro Giaccone will make his second appearance for the Crew. Taha Habroune played well on the attacking front, registering an assist on Zawadski's goal.
(51') Mendez magic, Crew up 3-0
09:06 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachAfter subbing in to start the second half, Brais Mendez has made an immediate impact. He received a short pass from Habroune and softly passed a ball through Atlas goalkeeper Vargas for the score.
Make that two goals in two games for the La Liga newcomer.
Second half underway, substitutions
09:03 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachRegular Crew starter Steven Moreira is replacing Brooks Lennon to start the second half, along with Brias Mendez, the hero of the 2-2 draw against Inter Miami. Chase Adams will head to the bench.
First half stats
08:50 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan Aulbach- Shots: Crew 5, Atlas 3
- Shots on target: Crew 4, Atlas 2
- Possession: Crew 56%, Atlas 44%
- Corners: Crew 3, Atlas 1
- Fouls committed: Crew 1 (Chase Adams 36'), Atlas 0
New acquisition Eric Bailly has arrived in Columbus
08:47 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachBailly, a former Manchester United defender, will be in attendance during the second half of the Atlas match after completing his visa paperwork today, the team announced. The Crew signed Bailly on July 17 as a free agent.
Bailly was with Manchester for six seasons and was a part of the team's UEFA Europa League title in 2016-17. He made just 113 appearances during his time with the club because from 2018 to 2021, Bailly dealt with multiple injuries that limited his playing time.
In the 2022-23 season, Bailly was sent to France's Marseille on a loan before officially departing Manchester and joining Turkey's Besiktas.
Bailly returned to La Liga for three seasons, playing 38 games for Villarreal and Real Oviedo before becoming a free agent.
Beyond that, Bailly has international experience, having represented Ivory Coast in 49 games across a decade. His last international game was during a 2024 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
(45+1') Sean Zawadski scores to walk off field with 2-0 lead at half
08:45 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachThe Crew were given a final chance to execute a set piece in the 46th minute of the first half. They delivered, with Habroune finding the head of team captain Sean Zawadski for a 2-0 lead over Atlas.
(36') Atlas captain Camilo Vargas makes impressive save vs. Daniel Gazdag
08:36 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachSimilar to the spot of Habroune, Gazdag lined up to take a free kick on the left edge of the box and rocketed the ball toward the top left corner. Camilo Vargas, the 37-year-old captain of Atlas, made an incredible save by reaching out with his right hand on a jump.
The Crew continue to own possesion and have outshot Atlas 4 to 3.
(27') Cesar Ruvalcaba breaks through with a header
08:26 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachDylan Chambost placed a high-looping cross in position for defender Cesar Ruvalcaba, who was waiting on the left side of the box after a corner kick attempt. It's the second goal of his Crew career.
(19') Chase Adams fouled on breakaway, Taha Habroune's shot deflected
08:17 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachNo card was awarded, but Chase Adams drew some contact from Atlas defender Manuel Capasso on a run with open space on the left side. Taha Habroune took the first shot for the Crew on the free kick, but hit the two-man wall of defenders in the middle of the box.
(17') Crew winning possesion, have yet to shoot
08:12 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachThe Crew own a 60-40 split of possesion against Atlas, but have yet to create opportunities in the box and were called offside on their play farthest up the field. Hagen, meanwhile, recorded an early save against Sergio Hernandez.
Match underway
08:03 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachThe first-ever meeting between Atlas FC and the Crew is underway.
Being a Leagues Cup match three days after the Crew's 2-2 draw vs. Miami, the lineup is vastly different in a 4-4-2 formation. Chase Adams and Daniel Gazdag will be playing the farthest upfront for the Crew, with Hugo Picard, Dylan Chambost, Brooks Lennon and Taha Habroune appearing in the midfield.
Nicholas Hagen, the backup goalie, is in tonight for Patrick Schulte.
Unavailable for the Crew tonight
07:55 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachAfter playing three days ago, there are a few players not available off the bench tonight for the Crew's match vs. Atlas.
- Rudy Camacho
- Jamal Thiare
- Andre Gomes
- Patrick Schulte
- Sekou Bangoura
- Andres Hererra
Atlas FC starters
07:43 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachHere are the opposing starters.
- 2 - Gustavo Ferrareis - D
- 6 - Edgar Zaldivar - D
- 8 - Ryan Mmaee - F
- 10 - Luis Esteves - M
- 11 - Luis Henrique - M
- 12 - Camilo Vargas - GK
- 16 - Milton Valenzuela - D
- 21 - Rodrigo Schlegel - D
- 23 - Sergio Hernandez - M
- 27 - Victor Rios - M
- 28 - Manuel Capasso - D
Columbus Crew starters
07:31 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachHere are the starters for tonight's Leagues Cup game.
- Nicholas Hagen - GK
- Dylan Chambost - M
- Daniel Gazdag - M
- Brooks Lennon - D
- Cesar Ruvalcaba - D
- Malte Amundsen - D
- Sean Zawadski (captain) - D
- Taha Habroune - M
- Hugo Picard - M
- Chase Adams - F
- Tarun Karumanchi - F
Crew acquire a new forward on loan before the match
07:26 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachThe Crew have acquired Sao Paulo forward Gonzalo Tapia on loan to fill an international slot, which you can read about here.
Columbus Crew 2026 Leagues Cup schedule, phase one
06:45 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan Aulbach- Aug. 4 vs. Atlas FC - 7:45 p.m.
- Aug. 7 vs. Club Pachuca - 7:30 p.m.
- Aug. 11 vs. Pumas - 7:30 p.m.
How to watch Columbus Crew vs. Atlas FC tonight
06:15 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachWhere to watch Columbus Crew vs. Atlas FC, TV, Streaming
Date: Aug. 4
Time: 7:45 p.m. ET
Streaming: Apple TV
You can watch the Crew take on Atlas with an Apple TV subscription, which starts at $12.99 per month.
Max Arfsten thanks Crew fans in exit video on social media
06:00 PM ET, August 4 2026, Dan AulbachThe Crew confirmed the sale of staple midfielder Max Arfsten to Middlesbrough FC and posted a video of Arfsten thanking the club and the Columbus fans on Aug. 4. before the Leagues Cup game.
"At the end of the day, all you can really ask for is an opportunity," Arfsten said in the video. "That was definetely given to me, whether it's from front office, the owners, coaching staff, all the way down. They really put a lot of time and effort into me in terms of my development and all my teammates I've ever had. Every interaction I've had with the fans, the nicest people. I can confidently say that no matter what, I'll always consider myself a member of the Crew."
See the video below.
From an MLS rookie to a cornerstone of the Crew right before our eyes 🥹
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) August 4, 2026
Wishing you nothing but the best in Middlesbrough, Max 💪 pic.twitter.com/iEG9sjQld7
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew win over Atlas 3-1 to open Leagues Cup, replay, highlights
