LEESBURG, Va. – Loudoun United FC’s first encounter with top-flight opposition in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup escalated rapidly in the early going as Columbus Crew SC swept to a 5-1 victory at Segra Field to advance to the Round of 16 in the tournament.

A late penalty kick by Kalil ElMedkhar provided the only consolation for the hosts, who saw Gaoussou Samake sent off in the 10th minute as Columbus scored all its goals in the opening half before easing off the gas pedal after the break.

Loudoun created the first clear-cut chance of the game in the fifth minute when Tommy Williamson fired wide of the near post after a cutback cross from the left, but a minute later a poor defensive header in United’s penalty area came to Columbus’ Yaw Yeboah, who fired home just inside the left post.

Events quickly overtook Loudoun in the minutes that followed as the side was reduced to 10 men as Samake brought down Mohamed Farsi outside the penalty to deny a goalscoring opportunity. While Yeboah hit the crossbar with the ensuing free kick, providing a let-off for the hosts, Columbus doubled its lead in the 18th minute when Sean Zawadski fired home from long range.

Isaiah Parente quickly added a pair of goals separated by three minutes to make it a four-goal lead for the Crew inside the half-hour mark before Christian Ramirez put home the fifth nine minutes before halftime.

The second half proved less eventful as the Crew maintained almost 80 percent of possession, but in the 85th minute ElMedkhar was brought down in the penalty area by Columbus’ Jake Morris to offer a chance from the spot. ElMedkhar stepped up and scored to give Loudoun a late positive moment, but the Crew comfortably advanced on in pursuit of their second Open Cup title in club history.