Crew begins tough two-week stretch with 2-2 draw in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WCMH) — Sean Zawadzki and Marino Hinestroza each scored their first goals of the season to help Columbus earn a 2-2 draw against Nashville Saturday night at GEODIS Park.

Zawadzki opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a header off a corner kick. Nashville scored a pair of goals in succession during stoppage time of the first half. Hany Mukhtar got the first and was followed up by a sublime Anibal Godoy bicycle kick that fired past Crew goalie Patrick Schulte.

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After Diego Rossi failed to score a penalty in the 49th minute, Hinestroza scored the equalizer for Columbus in the 79th minute with a header off a cross from Yaw Yeboah.

The Crew were without several key pieces Saturday including Cucho Hernandez, who was out due to “team policy” according to head coach Wilfried Nancy, who addressed his absence postgame. Christian Ramirez, Rudy Camacho and Alex Matan were out with injuries and Derrick Jones served a red card suspension after last week’s match in Charlotte.

It’s a quick turnaround for the Crew, who return to Lower.com Field on Tuesday night for the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals against Mexican club UANL Tigres. It’ll be the second of five matches Columbus is scheduled to play in a 15 day stretch.

The Black & Gold currently sit in third place in the Eastern Conference standings after six matches and resume MLS play on Saturday when they host D.C. United.

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