The Columbus Crew leveled the game at 1-1 moments after the start of the second half, but Vancouver Whitecaps FC responded 11 minutes later and the Black & Gold fell 2-1 at BC place Saturday evening.
Six minutes into the match, the Crew fell behind early for the first time this season as Vancouver’s Daigo Kobayashi opened the scoring with a strike from nearly 40 yards out. Jairo Arrrieta tallied for the first time in 2013 and leveled the game seconds into the second half. The Crew’s Josh Williams inbounded quickly to Ben Speas, who earned his first career assist on Arrieta’s goal – his 10th career tally — near low post to beat Vancouver goalkeeper Joe Cannon.
Kenny Miller gave Whitecaps FC the lead again for the final time in the 57th minute after a turnover in the Crew’s own end was finished unassisted near-post. The Crew returns home with three points following the two-game road swing to open the campaign.
The home portion of the Crew’s season opens next weekend on March 16 in a fixture against last year’s Supporters’ Shield winner, the San Jose Earthquakes.
