PORTLAND, OR – Under new management, the Columbus Crew faced off against the Portland Timbers to kick off their 2026 MLS campaign. Henrik Rydström and his staff led the Black & Gold to hopefully gain their first win at Providence Park in Club history. Phil Neville and the Green & Gold had other plans, shutting down the Crew by a 3-2 scoreline. 

The Crew got things going early with Wessam Abou Ali getting his 2026 scoresheet started after capitalizing on a mistake by the Timbers midfield, collecting a pass and dribbling towards the Timbers goal, getting around two defenders before hitting a low shot back across his body past James Pantemis. Abou Ali seemed to have picked up right where he left off in 2025, hoping to give the Crew the spark at the No. 9 role that was once occupied by Cucho Hernandez. 

Minutes later, Diego Rossi nearly doubled the lead with a shot from distance that was heading towards the far corner, but Pantemis was able to reach and make the diving save to his right-hand side, conceding a corner kick to the Crew. 

At the other end, Patrick Schulte was called to action to deny the Timbers from leveling the match, conceding a corner to the Timbers in the 10th minute. 

But as the saying goes, some things just never change. 

In the 14th minute of play, the Timbers capitalized on the Crew when Felipe Mora hammered home a loose ball inside the 18-yard box past Schulte, sending the infamous Timbers Army into ecstasy. However, things would go from bad to worse for the Crew when Antony fired home a shot from Schulte’s left in the 20th minute, to send the home side up 2-1. 

Columbus was forced to make a very early sub, with Dylan Chambost pulling up and grabbing his hamstring on a non-contact run in the Crew’s defensive half. Amar Sejdic would see the field in the 24th minute to sure up the midfield next to Taha Habroune. 

In the latter stages of the first half, the Crew found their equalizing goal through Rossi, who again fired a shot from distance towards goal. Pantemis was able to make a diving attempt to his right and get a hand on the ball, but it wasn’t enough as the shot found the back of the net just before halftime. 

With no substitutions, the second half was simple. Both teams would create chances, but the effort of getting that go-ahead goal was scarce. 

Columbus would build possession with the circulation of passes, but the final bite to put the ball in the back of the net lacked for Rydströms side. 

The Timbers found their lucky go-ahead goal through Ariel Lassiter, who fired home a shot from just inside the 18-yard box with wide open space, past Schulte in the 88th minute. 

That goal proved to be the nail in the coffin, keeping the Crew winless at Providence Park in seven tries. 

It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

It never feels good losing your first game of the season. But Columbus is doing something cool under Henrik Rydström. It’s going to take time, so patience is a virtue. Plus, two goals on the road? That’s a big plus in itself. 

Wessam gets started

In just six games last year, we saw what Abou Ali is made of. After being away with injury, nobody was sure how the Palestine international would look. After tallying a goal and an assist, Abou Ali is set to have a breakout season for the Black & Gold. 

What’s next?

The Columbus Crew are on the road again to Sporting Kansas City. Kickoff is slated for 8:30 p.m. EDT, and you can watch the match on Apple TV.