Saturday marked the dawning of a new Major League Soccer season, and the debut of a new-look Columbus Crew SC squad, featuring four new starters, all of whom made their MLS debuts. While the result was not what the team wanted, the performances from the new faces gave fans plenty to think about, and even feel encouraged by.
The spine of the Crew SC squad that took the field was where fans saw the majority of the new faces. Mohammed Abu partnered with Wil Trapp in the center of midfield, and new Designated Player Jonathan Mensah partnered Nicolai Naess in the heart of defense.