Crew Earn First Home Goal, Draw with Orlando

Diego Rossi's late strike secures a point for Columbus in a tight match against visiting Orlando City.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 1:40am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a soccer match between two teams, with the players and field abstracted into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the energy and drama of the game.A cubist interpretation of the hard-fought draw between the Columbus Crew and Orlando City, capturing the intensity and dynamism of the match through fragmented, geometric forms.Columbus Today

The Columbus Crew earned their first home goal of the season, with Diego Rossi scoring in the 80th minute to salvage a 1-1 draw against Orlando City on Sunday night. The visitors had taken an early lead through Marco Pasalic, but the Crew dominated possession and chances, outshooting Orlando 19-5. Both teams were hampered by injuries, with the Crew losing striker Wessam Abou Ali to a serious knee issue in the first half.

Why it matters

This result ends a difficult start to the season for the Crew, who had struggled to find the net at home. The draw gives them their first point at Lower.com Field, while Orlando City earns a valuable road point despite being outplayed for much of the match.

The details

Rossi's late goal canceled out Pasalic's opener for Orlando in the 14th minute. The Crew controlled possession and created more chances, forcing Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau into six saves. Both teams were hit by injuries, with the Crew losing Abou Ali and Orlando losing center backs Iago and Robin Jansson in the second half.

  • The match was played on Sunday, April 13, 2026.
  • Pasalic scored the opening goal for Orlando in the 14th minute.
  • Abou Ali exited the match for Columbus in the 35th minute with a serious knee injury.
  • Rossi scored the equalizer for Columbus in the 80th minute.
  • Iago and Robin Jansson were both forced off for Orlando in the 75th and 78th minutes, respectively.

The players

Diego Rossi

A forward for the Columbus Crew who scored the equalizing goal in the 80th minute.

Marco Pasalic

A midfielder for Orlando City who scored the opening goal in the 14th minute.

Wessam Abou Ali

A striker for the Columbus Crew who was forced off with a serious knee injury in the 35th minute.

Iago

A center back for Orlando City who was substituted in the 75th minute due to injury.

Robin Jansson

A center back for Orlando City who was substituted in the 78th minute due to injury.

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What they’re saying

“We'll have to see the extent of Wessam's injury, but it looked serious. Losing him was a big blow, but the guys showed a lot of fight to get back into the match.”

— Caleb Porter, Head Coach, Columbus Crew

“It was a tough day for us with the injuries, but the team showed a lot of character to grind out a point on the road. We'll take it and look to build on this performance.”

— Oscar Pareja, Head Coach, Orlando City

What’s next

The Crew will be hoping for good news on the severity of Abou Ali's knee injury as they prepare to host the New England Revolution next weekend. Orlando City will look to build on this result when they return home to face Atlanta United.

The takeaway

This hard-fought draw showcases the resilience of both teams, who overcame key injuries to earn a point. For the Crew, it marks their first home goal and a step in the right direction after a difficult start to the season. Orlando City, meanwhile, will be pleased to earn a road result despite being outplayed for large stretches.