Sporting Kansas City secured a thrilling 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew at a sold-out Sporting Park on Saturday, highlighted by Dejan Joveljic’s remarkable achievement of tying the club record as the fastest player to score 20 regular season goals. Joveljic, now the Designated Player for Sporting KC, reached this milestone in just 34 games, matching a mark set by former player Preki back in 1997.
Joveljic’s Impact and Historic Scoring Pace
After leading Sporting KC with 18 goals during his debut season last year, Joveljic has now scored 20 goals in only 34 regular season matches. His recent form is exceptional, as he has netted the last five goals for Sporting KC players dating to late August 2025. This accomplishment places him alongside club legends in terms of scoring speed:
1. Dejan Joveljic – 34 games (2026)
1. Preki – 34 games (1997)
3. Dom Dwyer – 44 games (2014)
4. Digital Takawira – 45 games (1997)
5. Alan Pulido – 48 games (2023)
Match Overview: Early Challenges and Key Plays
Sporting KC entered the match with one lineup adjustment, as Ethan Bartlow made his club debut replacing the injured Justin Reynolds. Bartlow nearly gave SKC the lead in the 24th minute, soaring above Columbus defenders to meet a corner from Manu Garcia, forcing an outstanding save from Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.
The visiting Columbus Crew took the lead in the 33rd minute through their Designated Player Wessam Abou Ali, who extended his scoring streak to five consecutive MLS matches. The goal came from capitalizing on a turnover inside Sporting’s penalty area, putting Columbus ahead 1-0.
Sporting nearly equalized before halftime; Shapi Suleymanov’s free kick was tipped away by Schulte in a diving save. Columbus also came close to doubling their lead when Diego Rossi struck the post from close range and Daniel Gazdag’s follow-up shot went wide, keeping the score at 1-0 going into the break.
Second Half Rally and Joveljic’s Crucial Goals
The second half saw fast-paced action as Sporting KC quickly responded. In the 48th minute, Calvin Harris switched the ball to Jake Davis, who delivered a quick pass to Joveljic eight yards from goal. Joveljic composedly finished to level the score at 1-1, marking his first goal of the 2026 season.
Joveljic added a second goal for Sporting KC in the 72nd minute, capitalizing on a deflected attempt from Suleymanov. This goal put Sporting ahead and marked Joveljic’s ninth career multi-goal game in MLS regular seasons, as well as his fourth multi-goal performance specifically for Sporting KC.
Late Equalizer and Dramatic Finish
Columbus Crew fought back with Diego Rossi scoring an equalizing goal in the 82nd minute, continuing his strong start to the season. Rossi’s finish came from a well-placed shot following a cross by Max Arfsten, bringing his MLS career goal tally to 81 over eight seasons.
Shortly after, Columbus earned a penalty after a VAR review by Kevin Stott. Wessam Abou Ali stepped up to take the spot kick in the 87th minute but was denied by goalkeeper Pulskamp who made a crucial full-extension save to preserve Sporting KC’s draw.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Fixture and Team Prospects
Sporting Kansas City returns to Sporting Park on Saturday, March 7, to face San Diego FC in a Western Conference matchup at 7:30 p.m. CT. Fans can obtain tickets online, and the game will be broadcast live on Apple TV, offering an opportunity for Sporting KC to build on this promising start to the season.
