The MLS season is the longest in North American major league sports.
In Columbus, it suddenly seems short.
Crew SC failed to win for a sixth straight game Wednesday night in front of a season-low crowd of 13,410 at Mapfre Stadium, settling for a 1-1 tie against Toronto FC to open the second half of the season.
It was a meager way to start a crucial three-game homestand, especially against a depleted team that could only muster 16 players for its gameday roster.
Crew defender Harrison Afful scored the first goal of his Major League Soccer career to stake the Crew to a 1-0 lead in the 54th minute, but Toronto forward Jordan Hamilton tied the scored in the 64th to keep the Crew winless since May 28.