Roman Bürki was stretchered off the field after a head injury during the U.S. Open Cup final between St. Louis City and the Columbus Crew on Wednesday night. The incident happened midway through the second half when Crew winger Anass Zaroury accidentally kneed Bürki in the head while both scrambled for a loose ball inside the St. Louis penalty area.
Bürki lay motionless on the pitch for several minutes as medical staff attended to him. After treatment, he was carefully placed on a stretcher and taken off the field. Even as he was wheeled away, the goalkeeper gave a thumbs-up and waved to the crowd. His replacement, Ben Lundt, came on in the 78th minute with the score still level at 0-0.
CBS Sports reporter Hailey Sutton, covering the match live, confirmed that Bürki was conscious and had full movement in his limbs as he was being transported to the hospital for further evaluation.
The 35-year-old Swiss goalkeeper joined St. Louis City ahead of their inaugural MLS season in 2023 after spending seven years with Borussia Dortmund in Germany. Bürki’s experience has made him a steady presence for the expansion club.
The U.S. Open Cup final was tightly contested before the injury disrupted the flow of the game. Columbus Crew winger Anass Zaroury was involved unintentionally in the collision that left Bürki hurt. The match continued with both teams searching for a breakthrough as Lundt took over in goal.
Details about Bürki’s condition following his hospital transfer have not been released. St. Louis City and the U.S. Open Cup organizers have yet to provide an official medical update.
The goalkeeper’s injury cast a shadow over the final moments of the match, with fans and players alike concerned for his well-being. The game resumed with St. Louis City striving to maintain their defensive shape under Lundt, while Columbus pushed forward in search of a decisive goal.
Bürki’s career includes significant experience at the international level with Switzerland, and his presence has been a stabilising factor for St. Louis City since their MLS debut. The sudden injury is the latest in a series of setbacks that have tested the squad’s depth during their campaign.
Further information on Bürki’s status and updates from the clubs are expected once medical assessments are complete. The focus remains on the goalkeeper’s recovery as the U.S. Open Cup final concludes under difficult circumstances.
According to Yahoo Sports.