COLUMBUS – A header from Gaston Sauro solidified a 1-1 draw for the Columbus Crew SC on Saturday at MAPFRE Stadium in the opening match of a 2019 MLS season that almost didn’t include the Black and Gold.
The Crew played its first match since a new ownership team led by Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam and former Crew team doctor Pete Edwards took control of the franchise and headed off a proposed move to Austin.
Despite an early Red Bulls’ goal in the sixth minute from Andreas Ivan, the Crew responded just before the half’s end when Sauro scored his first career goal with Columbus off a corner kick from Federico Higuain.
The Crew (0-0-1, 1 pt.) continues action on the road at the New England Revolution on March 9 (2:00 p.m./SportsTime Ohio).
The debut of the newest MLS franchise was a 4-1 drubbing of Cincinnati FC at the hands of the Seattle Sounders.