KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, USA — It was Diego Rossi who had the final word, rifling a right-footed strike into the bottom left corner in the 82nd minute to cancel out Sporting Kansas City's stunning comeback and ensure the spoils were shared in a breathless 2-2 draw at Children's Mercy Park. The match had everything — a first-half opener, a second-half double from Dejan Joveljic that briefly sent the home faithful into raptures, and a late equalizer that left both sets of supporters with mixed emotions. Neither Sporting Kansas City nor Columbus Crew could claim the three points they desperately needed, with both sides sitting winless in the early MLS standings.
Wessam Abou Ali broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute, latching onto a precise delivery from Taha Habroune and guiding a composed left-footed finish from the centre of the box straight into the centre of the goal. It was a well-worked move that rewarded Columbus Crew's early territorial dominance, and it gave the visitors a deserved lead heading into the interval. Just before the break, Diego Rossi came agonizingly close to doubling the advantage, striking the right post with a right-footed effort from close range after Max Arfsten delivered a dangerous cross — a moment that would prove significant in the match's broader narrative.
Sporting Kansas City emerged from the tunnel with renewed urgency, and within three minutes of the restart, Dejan Joveljic had leveled the contest. The Serbian striker latched onto a Jake Davis through ball following a swift fast break, and from the centre of the box, he drilled a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner to make it 1-1. The home crowd, which had endured a difficult first half, roared back to life. Joveljic was not finished. In the 72nd minute, he struck again — another right-footed finish from the centre of the box, this time to the bottom left corner following a second fast break — to put Sporting Kansas City ahead for the first time. The turnaround was remarkable, and Children's Mercy Park buzzed with disbelief and delight in equal measure.
The joy was short-lived. Columbus Crew responded immediately, and just a minute after Joveljic's second, Sean Zawadzki tested John Pulskamp with a fierce drive from outside the box that the Sporting KC goalkeeper pushed away brilliantly, saving in the top centre of the goal. Zawadzki's frustration boiled over and earned him a yellow card in the 79th minute for a bad foul. Then came Rossi, who had already rattled the woodwork, stepping up to punish Sporting Kansas City in the 82nd minute with a clinical finish from the right side of the box to restore parity.
Pulskamp was the busiest goalkeeper on the night, making three saves in total — including a crucial stop in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Hugo Picard, introduced as a substitute, unleashed a right-footed effort from outside the box that the keeper tipped away in the top centre of the goal, with Max Arfsten providing the assist. It was a nervy final stretch for the home side, who were clinging to the draw after surrendering their lead. Patrick Schulte, between the sticks for Columbus Crew, made two saves of his own — including a sharp stop from an Ethan Bartlow header in the 24th minute, with Manu García providing the cross.
Columbus Crew dominated the ball with 58.3% possession, pinning Sporting Kansas City back for long stretches and generating 10 shots to the home side's 8. Shots on target were close — 5 for Columbus to 4 for Sporting KC — reflecting how competitive the match was despite the visitors' territorial advantage. Columbus Crew committed 13 fouls to Sporting Kansas City's 9, with three yellow cards distributed across both sides, including an early booking for Andrés Herrera in the 15th minute.
The tactical story of this match was written on the counter. Columbus Crew's possession game created openings but could not account for Sporting Kansas City's devastating speed in transition. Joveljic's two goals both arrived from fast breaks, exposing gaps left by Columbus Crew's high-possession approach. It was a reminder that controlling the ball does not always mean controlling the game.
The scoreboard resets, but the table does not — both sides remain without a win. Sporting Kansas City host San Diego FC on March 7, while Columbus Crew travel to face Chicago Fire FC on the same date, with both clubs desperate to convert draws into victories.