The Crew are hosting the defending champions in Columbus down two starters, but they're in control in MLS's 2020 title match.
The Columbus Crew may be shorthanded, but they're not playing like it.
Lucas Zelarayan's 25th-minute goal opened the scoring in MLS Cup, and Derrick Etienne's goal six minutes later padded the advantage, as the host Columbus Crew lead the reigning champion Seattle Sounders, 2-0, at Mapfre Stadium.
Columbus was forced to play without Darlington Nagbe and Pedro Santos, two core stars and midfield cogs who tested positive for COVID-19 this week. Etienne and Aidan Morris took their places in the lineup, with the latter the youngest starter in MLS Cup history.
Both sides started brightly, but it was Columbus that had the game's first true scoring chance, with Stefan Frei impressively stopping Gyasi Zardes's chance from inside the box after a corner kick.
Frei has made a habit of coming up big on the MLS Cup stage, and he very nearly kept out Columbus's opener.
Harrison Afful curled a cross to the far post from the right, and Lucas Zelarayan met it with a well-hit volley, which Frei was able to get a hand on but couldn't keep out.
Zelarayan played provider in the 31st minute, with the Seattle defense collapsing on him as he received the ball at the top of the box. He spotted Etienne open to his left, and that's where the Haiti international curled a right-footed chance by Frei and in to make it 2-0.
Stay tuned here for more updates and highlights from throughout the match (refresh for most recent updates).