After two matches in the 2026 season, the Columbus Crew are still looking for their first win. They did, however, earn a point in the standings with a 2-2 tie in Kansas City Saturday. The Black & Gold failed to cash in on a number of excellent scoring opportunities, which made the outcome even more galling.

“I just told the players that we are all very frustrated,” said new head coach Henrik Rydström after the match. “We created enough to score more goals. We missed the penalty at the end of the game. We conceded silly goals – counterattacks again where we really had an opportunity to close them down or to protect our goal.”

The penalty shot to which Rydström was referring came with just four minutes left in regular time. It would have broken the 2-2 tie. Wessam Abou Ali took the kick after Kansas City’s Ian James committed a foul  in the box. Kansas City goalkeeper John Pulskamp blocked the attempt, diving to the left corner of the net.

The Crew scored a goal in both halves of the contest. In the 33rd minute, Abou Ali put the Black & Gold on the scoreboard on an easy chance after Pulskamp failed to clear a shot from Taha Habroune that wound up on Abou Ali’s foot. Sporting KC leveled the score early in the second half on a Dejan Joveljic goal from close range.

At the 72′ mark, Kansas City took their first lead of the match on another Joveljic shot inside the Columbus box. Ten minutes later, the Crew were able to tie the score on a Diego Rossi goal from the right side of the Sporting KC box off a long pass from Max Arfsten. Both Rossi and Abou Ali have scored in the first two Columbus matches.

“My job out wide is to create service and chances for them, and I feel like I’ve been doing that,” noted Arfsten. “I feel like we’ve all been doing that. Obviously, those are two main attacking players. I think the offense has been good. I think defensively, obviously, we need to sort some things out.”

The Crew host the Chicago Fire in their home opener next Saturday at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.