Columbus Crew ties Orlando City 1-1 after losing Wessam Abou Ali to injury

Diego Rossi's late goal salvaged a point for the Crew after they fell behind in the first half.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:10am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and clashing energy of a soccer match, with sharp planes of green, blue, and orange representing the field, players, and ball.A cubist interpretation of the intense action and competing forces on the pitch as the Columbus Crew and Orlando City battled to a 1-1 draw.Columbus Today

The Columbus Crew rallied to tie Orlando City 1-1 on Sunday night after losing forward Wessam Abou Ali to an injury in the first half. Orlando City took the lead in the first half, but Columbus forward Diego Rossi scored late in the second half to level the match.

Why it matters

The draw keeps both teams in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings, as they continue to fight for playoff positioning in a tight race. Abou Ali's injury is a concern for the Crew, who will need to adjust their lineup and tactics if he is forced to miss extended time.

The details

Orlando City took the lead in the first half through a goal from Marco Pašalić, who was assisted by rookie Tiago Souza. However, the Crew suffered a blow when forward Wessam Abou Ali went down with an injury in the first half. In the 82nd minute, Columbus forward Diego Rossi scored the equalizing goal to salvage a point for the home team.

  • The match took place on Sunday, April 13, 2026.
  • Wessam Abou Ali was injured in the first half of the match.
  • Diego Rossi scored the tying goal for Columbus in the 82nd minute.

The players

Diego Rossi

A forward for the Columbus Crew who scored the equalizing goal in the 82nd minute.

Wessam Abou Ali

A forward for the Columbus Crew who was injured in the first half of the match.

Marco Pašalić

A midfielder for Orlando City who scored the opening goal of the match.

Tiago Souza

A rookie player for Orlando City who provided the assist on the opening goal.

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What they’re saying

“We're disappointed to lose Wessam, but the team showed a lot of fight to come back and get a point. Diego's goal was huge for us.”

— Caleb Porter, Head Coach, Columbus Crew

What’s next

The Crew will need to evaluate the extent of Wessam Abou Ali's injury and determine if he will be available for their next match. Both teams will continue to fight for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference as the season progresses.

The takeaway

This match highlighted the resilience of the Columbus Crew, who were able to overcome the loss of a key player to earn a valuable point against a tough opponent. The draw keeps both teams in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings, setting up an intriguing rest of the season as they jockey for playoff spots.