The Columbus Crew hoped for a positive start to the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal against Tigres UANL on Tuesday night. However, the home leg didn’t go as well as anticipated, as the Crew drew 1-1 with Tigres, allowing the visitors to get an away goal, and lost midfielder Aidan Morris to a red card.

To kick off the first leg at Lower.com Field, Tigres’ quick transitions and effectiveness with the ball gave the visitors an early advantage. But the Black & Gold woke up and showed off their best skills to come from behind. Forward Diego Rossi put the MLS Cup champions on the board for a draw and everything will be decided in the second leg next week.

Within the first minute of the game, the first of several controversial calls of the night arrived when Columbus claimed a handball in Tigres’ penalty box. After a quick VAR review, referee Selvin Brown allowed the game to continue with no call.

It was an evenly played game by the 15^th minute, but the best goal chances came from Morris’ feet with his through balls to Rossi and attacker Marino Hinestroza.

Following a defensive mistake from the Liga MX side, a slightly wide shot to the second post by Hinestroza almost put the Crew on the board.

Unexpectedly, Tigres scored the opening goal of the match in the 18^th minute and kept decent possession of the ball for the next 10 minutes. Winger Diego Lainez with a quick recovery and a through ball to forward Andre-Pierre Gignac, who put the ball in the net to put Tigres on the board.

In the 28^th minute, Black & Gold goalkeeper Patrick Schulte played a quick long ball to forward Jacen Russell-Rowe, who opened the field with a one-touch pass to wing back Mohamed Farsi. However, the shot to goal was blocked by Tigres defender Guido Pizarro.

During the last 15 minutes of the first half, Columbus had Tigres pinned in their defensive half.

In the 30^th minute, Aidan Morris’ shot was caught by Tigres goalkeeper Carlos Rodriguez.

Just two minutes later, following a recovery by Farsi in Tigres’ penalty area, Rossi’s shot was too soft and was also easily caught by Rodriguez.

Ten minutes later, after a good individual play by Hinestroza, the winger’s shot went wide of the goal. However, Nancy’s high-pressure system was effective on the next play and tied the game. Morris recovered the ball after a bad pass by Samir Caetano and then assisted Rossi. The Uruguayan placed the ball to Rodriguez’s right post for the Crew’s only goal of the night.

The second half of the game was similar to the first one, in which the Black & Gold held possession but lacked effectiveness. Meanwhile, Tigres continued a defensive system and quick transitions to take advantage of Columbus’ defensive spaces.

In the 52^nd minute, following a great individual play by Rossi on the right side of the field where he dribbled two players, the forward quickly crossed ball but didn’t find a teammate.

Being a very disputed game in the midfield, no goal chances were created on either side.

Despite having control of the ball, Crew lost a man in just a five-minute gap. Morris was issued his first of two yellow cards in the 70^th minute due to excessive protests to the referee. A clear foul from behind in the 75^th minute saw the midfielder sent off.

The match became a back-and-forth for the last 15 minutes.

Schulte was called into action in the 85^th minute with a great save from an outside the box shot by Marcelo Flores. The last opportunity was for the Crew after a brilliant individual dribbling by Rossi. Unluckily, his crossed ball to Russell-Rowe was too long and the game ended in a draw.

The Black & Gold will face Tigres for a spot in the semifinals at Estadio Universitario in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, next Tuesday at 8:45 p.m. ET.