HOUSTON (AP) —Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored in the 81st minute to give the defending MLS champion Columbus Crew a 1-1 season-opening tie against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night.
A matchup of the last three MLS Cup winners was scoreless early in the second half when Houston’s Brian Ching took a lead pass from Chris Wondolowski and scored from just outside the upper box.
The Dynamo won back-to-back MLS titles in 2006-07.
The Crew tied the game when Jason Garey settled a loose ball with a header and Schelotto fired it just inside the left post.
Columbus goalie William Hesmer and Houston’s Pat Onstad had four saves apiece.
Updated Mar 21, 10:33 pm EDT