One Knoxville SC had the chance to make history against a Major League Soccer opponent − after doing it once already two weeks ago − but fell short on the road against the Columbus Crew in a fourth-round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match April 29.
The Crew, owned by Knoxville's own Haslam family, outscored One Knox 4-1 in the Round of 16 match at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Ohio.
Knoxville's third-round match against D.C. United on April 15 was the first time the five-year-old team (four professional seasons) made it far enough in the tournament to face an MLS squad. After finishing the game in a 3-3 tie, Knoxville outscored D.C. United 6-5 in penalty kicks, marking just the fourth time a USL League One team has beaten a major-league team in the tournament.
Apr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; One Knoxville SC forward Babacar Diene (7) controls the ball as Columbus Crew defender Cesar Ruvalcaba (12) defends during the first half at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew forward Nariman Akhundzada (90) controls the ball as One Knoxville SC forward Braudilio Rodrigues (72) defends during the first half at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; One Knoxville SC forward Stavros Zarokostas (21) shoots the ball during the first half against the Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew defender Andres Herrera (2) celebrates a goal during the first half against One Knoxville SC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Hugo Picard (30) celebrates his second goal during the first half against One Knoxville SC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; One Knoxville SC forward Eli Conway (15) heads the ball during the first half against the Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew forward Nariman Akhundzada (90) hurdles One Knoxville SC defender Finn McRobb (3) during the first half at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew defender Cesar Ruvalcaba (12) heads the ball with One Knoxville SC forward Babacar Diene (7) during the first half at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Sekou Bangoura (17) kicks the ball during the first half against One Knoxville SC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Hugo Picard (30) celebrates his goal with midfielder Owen Presthus (45) during the first half against One Knoxville SC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew defender Andres Herrera (2) heads the ball with One Knoxville SC forward Braudilio Rodrigues (72) during the first half at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Hugo Picard (30) kicks the ball during the first half against One Knoxville SC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Hugo Picard (30) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first half against One Knoxville SC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Taha Habroune (16) handles the ball as One Knoxville SC midfielder Abel Caputo (6) defends during the second half at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Hugo Picard (30) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first half against One Knoxville SC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew forward Daniel Gazdag (8) celebrates his goal with forward Nariman Akhundzada (90) during the second half against One Knoxville SC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images1 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; One Knoxville SC forward Babacar Diene (7) controls the ball as Columbus Crew defender Cesar Ruvalcaba (12) defends during the first half at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images1 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; One Knoxville SC forward Babacar Diene (7) controls the ball as Columbus Crew defender Cesar Ruvalcaba (12) defends during the first half at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images2 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew forward Nariman Akhundzada (90) controls the ball as One Knoxville SC forward Braudilio Rodrigues (72) defends during the first half at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images3 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; One Knoxville SC forward Stavros Zarokostas (21) shoots the ball during the first half against the Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images4 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew defender Andres Herrera (2) celebrates a goal during the first half against One Knoxville SC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images5 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Hugo Picard (30) celebrates his second goal during the first half against One Knoxville SC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images6 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; One Knoxville SC forward Eli Conway (15) heads the ball during the first half against the Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images7 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew forward Nariman Akhundzada (90) hurdles One Knoxville SC defender Finn McRobb (3) during the first half at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images8 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew defender Cesar Ruvalcaba (12) heads the ball with One Knoxville SC forward Babacar Diene (7) during the first half at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images9 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Sekou Bangoura (17) kicks the ball during the first half against One Knoxville SC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images10 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Hugo Picard (30) celebrates his goal with midfielder Owen Presthus (45) during the first half against One Knoxville SC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images11 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew defender Andres Herrera (2) heads the ball with One Knoxville SC forward Braudilio Rodrigues (72) during the first half at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images12 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Hugo Picard (30) kicks the ball during the first half against One Knoxville SC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images13 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Hugo Picard (30) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first half against One Knoxville SC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images14 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Taha Habroune (16) handles the ball as One Knoxville SC midfielder Abel Caputo (6) defends during the second half at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images15 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Hugo Picard (30) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first half against One Knoxville SC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images16 / 16One Knox SC falls to Columbus Crew in second MLS match in US Open CupApr 29, 2026; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew forward Daniel Gazdag (8) celebrates his goal with forward Nariman Akhundzada (90) during the second half against One Knoxville SC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesOne Knox had the chance to become just the second USL League One team to defeat an MLS opponent twice in the tournament, but only Braudílio Rodrigues could find the back of the net for One Knox on Wednesday night.
The goal by Rodrigues, who was added to the roster in March, immediately followed a goal in the 10th minute by Hugo Picard for Columbus. The Crew outscored One Knox from there, starting with another goal by Picard in the 23rd minute. Dániel Gazdag added a goal for Columbus in the 72nd minute, and Chase Adams added another five minutes later.
One Knox, the defending USL League One champions, is back to league play May 2 on the road against FC Naples. Knoxville returns to Covenant Health Park on Wednesday, May 13 for a match against Union Omaha.
Ryan Wilusz is the business growth and development editor for Knox News. Email: ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com; Cell: 865-317-5138; Instagram: @knoxscruff.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Columbus Crew ends One Knox SC's historic Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run