Crew dominates 4-0 in first Leagues Cup appearance

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Columbus Crew beat Sporting Kansas City 4-0 tonight, with the Crew's most recent acquisitions playing a vital role in the win and advancing Columbus to the next round of the Leagues Cup.

As the reigning MLS Cup Champions, the Crew bypassed the group stage, so tonight's match at Lower.com Field marked the Crew's first venture in this year's Leagues Cup. The Round of 32 match-up began the knockout stage for Sporting KC, after they advanced from group stage as the West Region's Group 4 runners-up.

Columbus took the lead in the 44th minute when forward Diego Rossi scored off an assist by striker Cucho Hernandez. Rossi seized the opportunity, toeing the line to stay onside and slotting the ball past SKC goaltender John Pulskamp to an open net.

Rossi earned a brace with the Crew's second goal in minute 57. The match's top scorer received the ball from a misguided Sporting KC pass, drilling it through two defenders and past Pulskamp for a 2-0 Crew lead to start the second half.

An unselfish pass from Jacen Russell-Rowe led the way for recent acquisition DeJaun Jones' inaugural goal for the Crew in the 76th minute. Jones, who was a veteran defender with the New England Revolution, made his Crew debut tonight and took advantage of Coach Wilfried Nancy playing him offensively by scoring within the first minute of getting on the field.

Russell-Rowe assisted again just two minutes later with a goal from the Crew's other newest teammate, French midfielder Dylan Chambost. Pulskamp made the first save from Russell-Rowe's attempt, but fell to Chambost, who was in place to secure the finish. The 4-0 score mirrored the last time these two teams met, with their June 22 match up now tied with tonight's game for Kansas City's heaviest loss of the season.

Nicholas Hagen filled in as goalkeeper in his first appearance this season. Patrick Schulte, who just returned from playing for Team USA in Paris, was expected by some to return this evening but did not re-enter MLS play, leaving tonight's relatively uneventful goaltending to Hagen.

With this win, Columbus is set to host reigning Leagues Cup champions Inter Miami next Tuesday night at Lower.com Field for the Round of 16. Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi is still injured from his performance for Argentina in the Copa America final, and it is unclear if he will play in the Round of 16 match.