The Columbus Crew began a stretch of three MLS matches in seven days with a late-night start in Sandy, Utah. Real Salt Lake welcomed a Crew side that brought back starters in center back Jonathan Mensah and fullback Pedro Santos and debuted a Crew Academy product in midfielder Sean Zawadzki. The Black & Gold hadn’t won a match at Rio Tinto Stadium since 2011, and that streak continued following a 0-0 draw.
While Columbus welcomed back two key leaders on the field, the team was still without midfielders Lucas Zelarayán and Artur, along with winger Yaw Yeboah.