In a dominant performance, the Seattle Sounders defeated the Columbus Crew 4-0, highlighted by Albert Rusnák's first career hat trick. The match turned after Crew goalkeeper Abraham Romero received a red card in the first half for a foul on Jordan Morris, forcing Columbus to play with a field player, Sean Zawadzki, in goal. Rusnák opened the scoring with a free kick just before halftime and followed up with two more goals in the second half, while Morris contributed a goal and an assist. This defeat marked only the third loss for the Crew at home in their last 39 matches, a significant setback as they aimed to secure a playoff spot. The match, originally scheduled for June, was postponed to accommodate Columbus' CONCACAF Champions Cup final appearance. With this win, Seattle improved their chances in the playoff race, standing fifth in the West, while Columbus remained third in the East.