Major League Soccer
Sporting Kansas City draw in enticing home opener
Dynamic attack, persistent defense overcame error to lead Sporting Kansas City to 2-2 draw with Columbus Crew Saturday night.
A dynamic attack and a persistent defense overcame a first half error to lead Sp0rting Kansas City to a 2-2 draw with Columbus Crew in Kansas City’s 2026 home opener. Dejan Joveljic played the star with a brace, accompanied by newly-acquired Calvin Harris.
New beginnings begin best at home. At least that is the hope for Sporting Kansas City as the reinvigoration of the club and the roster rebuild forges ahead in 2026 with the home opener. Columbus Crew came calling Saturday night at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas, as each looked to get in the win column on Major League Soccer Matchday two.
Sporting’s new President of Soccer Operations and General Manager David Lee, in conjunction with new Manager Raphael Wicky, is injecting youth and jettisoning the veteran-heavy rosters of the last few seasons. Wicky is installing a more direct, pressing squad, tweaking the tactics of the previous regime.
The 3-0 loss at San Jose Earthquakes in the season opener last week has done nothing to deter the enthusiasm nor the action as Israeli center back Or Blorian was signed to a pre-contract this week. However, pre-season injuries to left back/midfielder Zorhan Bassong and winger Stephen Afrifa have impacted the side, along with a hamstring strain to right back Justin Reynolds last week.
Wicky filled out the home opener lineup card as such:
Our Jazz Night setlist 🎵 pic.twitter.com/6u40WVdlxo
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) March 1, 2026
In possession, the lineup was a back three – James, Bartlow, and Meyer, with wide backs pushing high and Garcia and Bartlett dropping into space to receive from the middle three. Against the ball, it was a back five with Reid and Davis dropping back.
Kansas City’s intent to go direct often was clear early. Shapi often ran from “behind” Joveljic to balls over the top, or Harris was the runner in the middle-left wing channel.
On one such direct foray in the 16th minute, Harris was brought down chasing a ball over the top, resulting in a yellow for the Crew and a Sporting free kick 27 yards out. The ensuing ball in from Garcia was cleared from danger.
James was found wide right with space in the 23rd minute. After receiving from the foot of Garcia, James pushed the ball low across the box, but a defender beat Joveljic to the ball.
The corner that followed saw Bartlow nearly open the scoring. The point-blank header off the Garcia serve forced Columbus and U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Patrick Schulte to stretch acrobatically left for the save. The already enthusiastic crowd grew only more earnest. Would Sporting KC satisfy their yearning?
Shapi continued his cutting to space inside as Reid went high left wing with Sporting in possession. Harris pushed the Crew right center back deep, while Joveljic stayed nearly as high centrally. Bartlett controlled the tempo most often from his deep midfield spot while Garcia found open spaces from which to orchestrate.
The dynamic play on the ball found its antithesis in one sloppy play out of the back. Playing short to the top of his own box in the 33rd minute, Pulskamp risked a turnover. Right on call, Columbus knocked the ball away. An initial shot was put into Pulskamp who could not clear, but Wessam Abou Ali knocked in the loose ball for the 1-0 lead. A lead undeserved that allowed frustration to take root.
A bungling over of Harris by the Crew’s Rudy Camacho gave Kansas City a lifeline in the 43rd minute. The foul gave Shapi a dangerous opportunity from just outside top right of the box. The left-footed Russian’s curling effort drove Schulte again to his left for a strong save.
In the midst of the home side feeling cheated for their efforts, the halftime break arrived. And although halftime saw no lineup changes for Sporting Kansas City, there was a change of spirit.
After a quick up and back with Joveljic near the midfield circle, Garcia deftly found Harris alone wide left in the 48th minute. With space to burn, Harris drove, then curled a low ball far post for Davis. The Michigan native looked to shoot but clipped in for Joveljic. The talented striker cut, stopped on a dime, saw the defender fly by, and slotted home with the calmest of finishes to draw the match level.
Dejan making Columbus look silly. #SportingKC #SKCvCLB pic.twitter.com/tvZOPIZmeJ
— KC Soccer Journal (@KCSoccerJournal) March 1, 2026
It took 24 more minutes and absorbing some pressure defensively, but Sporting took their first lead of the season through Harris again. Reid smartly found Harris wide left after stripping a Columbus attacker 10 yards short of midfield. Harris strode forward, spying Shapi alone at the top of the box. Shapi received and hit a curling shot that struck a defender. Like a cat, the Serbian latched onto the ball and found net for a 2-1 lead.
Dejan with the brace on the Shapi rebound! 2-1 SKC!! #SportingKC #SKCvCLB pic.twitter.com/daZ00JRoLs
— Chad Smith (@PlayFor90) March 1, 2026
Wicky inserted speed for speed in the 81st minute as Afrifa stepped on for Harris.
Yet, Columbus was not kept down for long. Arfsten, slick yet ineffective on the night, got back to basics with a cut in and cross far post from the left flank. An unfortunate flick on from KC’s Wyatt Meyer found the Crew’s Diego Rossi, who pinged a shot inside the far post for the leveler.
Only four minutes later, Sporting Kansas City’s fate seemed sealed. James brought down Jamal Thiare inches inside the far-left edge of Sporting’s box. A VAR review deemed it a penalty. Abou Ali stepped up for his second goal of the match. But Pulskamp was in redemption mode. The second-year starter dove right to deny the shot and keep the match drawn at two.
JOHN PULSKAMP SAVES THE PK! #SportingKC #SKCvCLB pic.twitter.com/iMBFO8w3If
— Chad Smith (@PlayFor90) March 1, 2026
The 91st minute saw Wicky put on Jansen Miller for James, Taylor Calheira for Shapi, and Kwaku Agyabeng for Bartlett.
Nine minutes of added time were announced, and although they saw Sporting suffer, the defense held on for the point. The draw was the third in the last six home openers. Yet, the squad fashioned a dynamic attack supported by an imperfect, but industrious defense. Hope seems to glisten in the background for this club amid renewal.
Sporting Kansas City will host San Diego FC next Saturday night at Sporting Park, while Columbus heads home to face Chicago Fire.
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As much as I think we could have pulled all three points, I think this is a fair result. Even if they could have avoided the mistake of the first goal, CLB still had other chances they could have finished. While there is much to critique, overall the vision and the path forward is visible. There’s a lot to be happy about with the club. Reid, Harris, and James were (to me) unexpected bright spots. Manu looks very good with the ball at his feet and Shapi looks primed to convert into a no 8 (Roger please teach him your ways!).
I think we need a new no 1 between the pipes. Pulskamp is a serviceable back up and could probably get better over time. He just doesn’t imbue me with any confidence. I think he should stay on the roster, but the starting job shouldn’t be a lock for him.
All in all, it was an exciting game and I’m glad to see the result.
I appreciate your optimistic verbiage to describe the defense. The word I would use is “trash” with the qualifier of “again” after which I’d tack on “as per usual with teams Raphael Wicky coaches.”
But I do appreciate your optimism.
What about them did you dislike?
there wasn’t a ton of scramble defending. First goal was a pulskamp mistake. Second goal was unlucky as the header bounced right to Rossi.
they didn’t look disorganized. What specifically didn’t you like?
I don’t think the second was unlucky. I think we have Reid losing track of his man, and instead going for a ball that Meyer was clearly was going to get (although he got it poorly). So it’s communication and trust among the back line and that can get better. But it’s not just unlucky. Same with the first goal. I don’t think it was smart to play out of the back there, but Pulskamp was expecting Bartlett to come back. Maybe that was even something worked on the training ground. So not just a bad decision but bad communication too. Fixable, but not bad luck.
Reid didn’t lose his man per se. He left his man because he was reading that cross and was going to head it away. His read wasn’t THAT off bc Meyer barely got to it which is what ultimately led to the issue. Had Meyer missed, Reid clears it. Meyer just got enough of it to make a mess. I think that’s luck more than a communication breakdown.
but your point is taken. If most of this backline is still playing at the ended the year, our roster build is way off schedule
Yeah I think offensively looked dynamic, we barely have a team yet looked better than last year overall. Defensively was a bit of a struggle but I think when guys start coming in and shore up the back row this team is going to be significantly better than last year.
I actually enjoyed this game. It was pleasantly different from nearly every game last season. The energy was high and the team showed moments of really good ball movement and cohesive play. I think they really need to work on moving the ball forward out of the press faster…more 1 touch passes. I’m worried about Pulskamp’s feet still. After his mistake leading to the Columbus goal, he still made some risky passes and put the defenders in a rough spot.
I actually really liked most everyone. The jury is out on Meyer for me, but Bartlow was quite good and Ian James as a RB was solid (disregarding giving up the PK of course). Ian’s 1v1 defending is quite good. For a 17 year old, dude doesn’t look out of place on the pitch to me.
I am actually pleasantly surprised by this team and excited to watch them this year. I think this team continues to get better and better too. New players of course but also the young players will gain experience at a faster pace of play and I think we will see them evolve and improve rapidly.