Amidst a half that lasted 60-plus minutes last week in a 2-0 loss to Charlotte FC, the Columbus Crew would need to shrug off their first defeat of 2024 and put that anger towards Nashville SC who was the opponent Saturday night. With both teams missing significant players and coming off of losses, it was a battle of two teams who needed a win to get themselves back on the right track.

The Black & Gold came close to opening the scoring in the first minute when Malte Amundsen found Yaw Yeboah in on goal, but the heavy touch off of Yeboah’s foot fell right into the hands of Nashville goalkeeper Elliot Panicco.

Aidan Morris had his shot go over the crossbar in the eighth minute, after seeing Mohamed Farsi receive a long ball on the right hand side and leave it for the midfielder just outside of the 18-yard box.

Nashville’s first chance came in the 13th minute when Sam Surridge found his way into space. The shot coming from Patrick Schulte’s right was saved, keeping the score level at 0-0.

Columbus got the scoring started in the 17th minute, when Diego Rossi sent a long ball to the back post on a corner kick, finding the towering Sean Zawadzki for the header into the back of the net. Just 10 minutes later, Rossi came close to doubling the Crew lead, but his attempt went just high over the crossbar.

Patrick Schulte was the victim of two hard-hitting collisions, with the worse of them coming in the 39th minute when he hurried off of his line to collect a cross but fell hard on his shoulder. He was able to continue, giving all of the Crew staff and supporters a sigh of relief.

The home side would find an equalizer through Hany Mukhtar, when he was able to put the ball into an empty net after Schulte misread the initial cross from Jacob Shaffelburg. Nashville would then take the lead through an Anibal Godoy bicycle kick in late second-half stoppage time and into halftime.

Columbus was given a great chance to equalize just seconds into the second half when Rossi was fouled inside the penalty box. After a VAR review, Columbus was awarded a penalty kick. Rossi would take with Cucho Hernandez absent from the team, but the spot kick from Rossi would hit the post and stay 2-1 in favor of Nashville.

Mukhtar came close to giving Nashville a 3-1 lead, but his shot from a tight angle was saved by Schulte. Godoy, too, came close to extending the lead, but his shot on a wide-open net went wide of the frame.

Marino Hinestroza equalized for Columbus in the 79th minute when Yeboah clipped a cross to the back post near the touchline with Hinestroza rising up to head home the cross making the score 2-2. With that, Hinestroza got his first MLS goal and Yeboah claimed his fifth assist of the season.

With both teams fighting for the game-winner, Columbus earned a hard-fought point in Nashville.

Second half dominance

After conceding two goals in first-half stoppage time, the Crew came out in the second half the dominant side. Nashville had no real clear-cut opportunities except two, but Columbus showed its grit and resilience and found an equalizing goal through Hinestroza to earn a point.

No Cucho Hernandez, no party

It was learned hours before the game that the Columbus Crew would be without striker Cucho Hernandez. Per a Columbus Crew spokesperson, the absence of Hernandez was not injury-related.

What’s next?

The Columbus Crew are back home next Saturday to host D.C. United. Kickoff from Lower.com Field is set for 7:30 p.m. You can watch the match on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.