With the 2019 season opener just 10 days away, another dress rehearsal lies ahead of Columbus Crew SC on Wednesday when the club faces the Charleston Battery for the second game of the Carolina Challenge Cup. The Black & Gold look to build off a gritty 1-1 draw against the Chicago Fire on Saturday evening and establish some positive momentum going forward.

The Crew played down a man for 60 minutes after captain Wil Trapp received a red card just a half hour into the first contest of the preseason tournament. Despite being at a man disadvantage, head coach Caleb Porter learned about the heart and determination of his club. Columbus remained steadfast on defense and didn’t concede a goal for the rest of the game, and even generated quality chances in the final third.

It was a nice return for defender Waylon Francis. The Costa Rican doesn’t appear to have missed a beat, linking up with numerous teammates to create quality scoring chances throughout the evening. The defender even set up Gyasi Zardes with a lofted ball, which the forward headed home to tie the game. The focus now shifts to USL-side Charleston Battery on Wednesday evening

Lineups:

Columbus Crew lineup:

Charleston Battery line: TBA

How to watch:

Time: 5:00 p.m. ET

Venue: MUSC Health Stadium; Charleston, South Carolina

Streaming: charlestonbattery.com

Join the conversation with other Crew fans and Massive Report staff members throughout the game. We will provide a game thread and look forward to hearing your thoughts throughout the contest. What are you most looking forward to seeing from the Crew in game number two?