Columbus Crew 1–1 Burnley | International Club Friendly

July 13, 2026 — Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio

Columbus Crew and English Championship side Burnley played out an entertaining 1–1 draw in a mid‑summer friendly that served as a key fitness test for both clubs ahead of their respective season resumptions. A lively crowd of 18,743 witnessed a match that ebbed and flowed, with both sides fielding near‑full‑strength lineups for much of the 90 minutes.

First Half: Burnley’s Intensity Edges Ahead

Burnley, preparing for their Championship campaign under manager Vincent Kompany, started with a high press that unsettled Columbus’s build‑up play. The Clarets took a deserved lead in the 29th minute when winger Manuel Benson cut inside from the right flank, exchanged a quick one‑two with Josh Brownhill, and fired a left‑footed shot into the bottom corner past Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.

The goal came after a period of sustained Burnley pressure. Columbus struggled to keep possession in their own half, with Burnley’s midfield trio of Sander Berge, Josh Cullen, and Brownhill winning the second balls. However, the Crew gradually found their rhythm, and Christian Ramírez forced a sharp save from Burnley keeper Arijanet Muric with a powerful header in the 38th minute. Moments later, a curling free kick from Darlington Nagbe was tipped over the bar.

Second Half: Columbus Responds

Columbus head coach Wilfried Nancy made three halftime changes, introducing Max Arfsten and Sean Zawadzki to inject energy down the flanks. The shift in personnel paid dividends in the 56th minute. Full‑back Mohammed Farsi overlapped on the right, received a pass from Cucho Hernández, and delivered a low cross that was turned home by Jacen Russell‑Rowe from six yards out. The goal was initially flagged for offside but was confirmed after a brief VAR check (the friendly used VAR for testing purposes), sparking celebrations in the stands.

Both teams created chances in the final half‑hour. Burnley’s Zeki Amdouni had a powerful strike deflected wide, while Columbus’s Hernández saw a long‑range effort tipped onto the post by Muric. The match grew more physical as the second half wore on, with several heavy tackles, but the referee kept the game flowing.

Tactical Takeaways

• Burnley’s pressing structure remained effective even after substitutions, suggesting good squad depth for Kompany’s system.
• Columbus’s adaptability was evident: after a shaky first half, the Crew shifted to a 3‑4‑3 shape that gave them more width and passing options.
• Set‑pieces were a notable battleground. Burnley won 12 corners to Columbus’s 5, but the Crew’s zonal marking held firm.

What This Means for Each Club

For Columbus, the draw extends their unbeaten run in friendlies this summer to three matches (2 wins, 1 draw). The Crew resume MLS regular‑season action next Saturday against New England Revolution, with Nancy likely pleased by the fitness levels and the response after conceding first.

Burnley will view the match as a valuable test against a quality MLS side. The Clarets have one more friendly before their Championship opener against Watford. Kompany will want to tighten defensive transitions after Columbus’s equaliser came from a quick attack that caught Burnly’s backline out of shape.

The 1–1 scoreline ultimately felt fair: both teams had spells of dominance and created enough to win, but a combination of good goalkeeping, last‑ditch defending, and a hint of rust kept the scores level.