The Columbus Crew kicked off their 2026 campaign with a trip to Portland to take on the Timbers. It was the first game for new head coach Henrik Rydström. Unfortunately for Rydström and the Black & Gold, Portland came away with a 3-2 win at Providence Park.

The Crew, as they did last season, suffered from an inability to prevent their opponent from capitalizing on effective counterattacks. The new man on the sidelines noted as such following the contest.

“We knew that the counterattacks and the crosses that our opponent was strong there,” Rydström said. “Sometimes you lose the ball, but instead of us taking a step forward and lock their players in, we let them get out from situation, we let them drive against us and we let them turn with the ball. It didn’t get better in the second half.”

Just six minutes into the match, Wessam Abou Ali, who missed the end of last season with a hairline fracture in his right ankle, gave the Crew a 1-0 lead, converting an errant pass into a shot from the top of the Timbers’ box.

Portland scored the next two goals of the match. In the 14th minute, Columbus was unable to clear a ball in their zone. That resulted in a quick pass to Felipe Mora, who sent it over Columbus goaltender Patrick Schulte for the equalizer.

The Timbers took the lead six minutes later on a counterattack off another Crew turnover. Antony Alves Santos found himself open inside the right corner of the Columbus box and went to the opposite edge of the net for the score.

Just before halftime, the Crew’s leading scorer last season, Diego Rossi, tied the game again, sending a hard-driving shot from outside the top of the box to the left corner of the net.

The only goal of the second half did not come until the 88th minute and gave the Timbers the lead for good. The Crew’s Malte Amundsen and Portland’s Kevin Kelsey battled for a pass sent to the front of the Columbus net. The ball bounced off Kelsey to teammate Ariel Lassister who converted from point blank range.

“I think the first half we played to their strengths. We left the middle open a little bit too much and allowed them to break on the counter,” said new Black & Gold captain, Sean Zawadzki. “I think they created a lot of chances through the counterattack and leaving that middle open.”

I think on our two goals you saw moments of brilliance from Wes and from Diego. I think in the second half you saw moments where we were able to keep the ball a little bit, swing it side to side and create some chances.”

Columbus remains on the road for their second game of the season, as they head to Kansas City for a clash Saturday against Sporting KC beginning at 8:30 p.m. EST.