The Columbus Crew rallied from a two-goal deficit, getting the equalizer on an own goal in the 69th minute to tie the visiting New England Revolution 2-2 to christen Lower.com Field on Saturday.
Tajon Buchanan in the first 30 minutes scored and assisted on a Gustavo Bou goal for a 2-0 lead for the Revolution (7-2-3, 24 points). Gyasi Zardes made it 2-1 in the 39th minute for Columbus (4-3-4, 16 points) before a sellout crowd of 20,371.
The own goal was as weird as it can get. Liam Fraser sent a long ball from beyond midfield toward Zardes in the final third. Defender Andrew Farrell turned to track Zardes and the ball caromed off the back his head 20 yards from the goal, and it rolled past goalkeeper Matt Turner with Zardes and Farrell also in chase to the open net. As the ball reached the line, they all collided. Turner tried to push the ball away but it went in off Farrell.
Turner made an outstanding left-handed save on Zardes at the near post in the 86th minute to preserve the tie. Farrell then got redemption with a goal-line clearance in the 94th minute.
Turner made five saves. Eloy Room stopped three shots for Columbus.
The $314 million facility is the first second-generation stadium in MLS. New England was the opponent on May 15, 1999, when Historic Crew Stadium opened as the first soccer-specific stadium in the league.
Buchanan silenced the raucous crowd when he scored his third with a header off a cross by DeJuan Jones in the 13th minute. Bou scored in his fifth straight game to double the lead 17 minutes later.
The reigning MLS Cup champions got untracked when Zardes struck for his fourth goal. He took a ball from Harrison Afful in the arc and turned to his left for a shot.
New England hosts Toronto FC on Wednesday. The Crew next play at FC Cincinnati on Friday.
— Field Level Media