Sporting Kansas City v Columbus Crew: Rydstrom wants opening defeat to act as ´wake-up call´

Henrik Rydstrom is eager for the Columbus Crew to use their opening-game defeat as a “wake-up call” when they face Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.

The Crew squandered an early lead last weekend as they went down to a late Ariel Lassiter goal in a 3-2 defeat to Portland Timbers.

After squandering some chances of their own, Columbus were made to pay in Rydstrom’s first competitive game in MLS management.

And the Swede now wants his players to learn from that setback when taking on Sporting, who themselves lost in the first game week.

“I hope this game will work like a wake-up call,” he told reporters.

“It’s amazing with football that you can prepare, and you can be aware of things, but then, for some reasons you forget about it, or you don’t do it.

“The problem we had was, mentally, we didn’t take a step against them. The counter-attacks were a little bit the same.”

Sights set on SKC pic.twitter.com/GA2YyIL27o

— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) February 24, 2026

Sporting were on the end of a heavy 3-0 loss at San Jose Earthquakes in their first game under head coach Raphael Wicky.

Wicky accepts his side were not good enough in key areas, which he has been looking to put right ahead of the game at Sporting Park.

“I saw some very good moments from the team, but the feeling myself and the staff had after the game is that we beat ourselves,” he said.

“There were too many easy turnovers, too many easy balls given away, and then gives a momentum shift when we’re in control.

“Those things need to be cleaned up. We need to be cleaner in the final third, not rushing passes, and also defending our own box better.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sporting Kansas City – Kwaku Agyabeng

Six players made their Sporting debuts last week after a big turnover in the off-season, one of those being 2026 MLS SuperDraft pick Kwaku Agyabeng.

The 19-year-old replaced the injured Justin Reynolds and performed well in a more advanced midfield position, which could land him a start.

Columbus Crew – Wessam Abou Ali

Wessam Abou Ali put Columbus ahead in their defeat to the Timbers and has now scored in four successive regular-season matches.

Only four players in Crew history have scored in five straight league games: Cucho Hernandez, Lucas Zelarayan, Brian McBride and Stern John.

Our Captains: Dejan, Manu & Zorhan pic.twitter.com/ZB0jtzrc4K

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) February 25, 2026

MATCH PREDICTION: COUMBUS CREW WIN

Columbus have won successive games against Sporting, including a 4-0 win in the Leagues Cup last 32 when the sides last met in 2024.

Sporting’s 3-0 loss to San Jose was their 10th defeat in 12 matches dating back to last season, five of those losses coming by at least three points.

The Crew lost their opener for only the second time since 2018, while only once in the past 19 years – in 2016 – have they started with two straight losses.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Sporting Kansas City – 23%

Draw – 22.4%

Columbus Crew – 54.6%