On Wednesday, the Columbus Crew played the USL League One’s Richmond Kickers in a U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 match-up at Richmond’s City Stadium. The Crew dominated play, coming away with a 3-0 win. They will host One Knoxville SC in the Round of 16 either on April 28 or 29 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Here are our three takeaways from Wednesday’s match:

1.    Columbus played without a number of their usual starters: forward Diego Rossi; midfielders Max Arfsten, Dylan Chambost, and Andre Gomez; defenders Rudy Camacho and Steven Moreira; and goalkeeper Patrick Schulte. It was a great opportunity to establish some roster depth, especially in the offensive attack.

2.  The Crew’s Hugo Picard scored a brace in Wednesday’s win, his first two goals for Columbus. The 22-year-old joined the Black & Gold in July last year after playing in France for Ligue 1’s EA Guingamp. Picard has seen action in all of the club’s seven MLS matches this season and started in the opener at Portland. His current contract runs until December of 2028.

3.   There were so many other firsts in Wednesday’s action. Jamal Thiaré posted his first goal for the Crew in his first start for the club. Cesar Ruvalcaba assisted on Thiaré’s tally, his first helper. Sekou Bangoura started his first match for Columbus since joining the team on Jan. 6. Homegrown defender Tristan Brown also started his first match. Homegrown defender Owen Presthus and homegrown forward Chase Adams saw their first action for the Black & Gold.