Columbus Crew record first win under Henrik Rydstrom: Takeaways

Columbus, Ohio — Striker Wessam Abou Ali bagged a brace to power the Columbus Crew to their first victory of the 2026 MLS campaign, a result that also delivered head coach Henrik Rydstrom his inaugural triumph at the helm. The Crew’s 2-0 decision over visiting Atlanta United on Saturday night snapped an early-season winless skid and provided an immediate jolt of momentum for the new coaching regime.

Abou Ali struck twice within the opening hour, showcasing the predatory finishing the club envisioned when it brought the forward into the fold. His first came after a slick team move carved open Atlanta’s back line, and the second was a confident finish after the visitors failed to clear a dangerous ball across the six-yard box. The brace was enough to secure three points and ignite the home crowd at Lower.com Field.

The result moves Columbus off the bottom of the Eastern Conference table and offers tangible evidence that Rydstrom’s tactical blueprint is taking hold. While the Crew will face sterner tests in the weeks ahead, the victory provides a timely confidence boost ahead of a congested early-season slate.

For Atlanta United, the loss extends a winless road stretch and leaves the Five Stripes searching for answers in the final third. Head coach Henrik Rydstrom, meanwhile, can now prepare for the club’s upcoming fixtures with a maiden victory in hand and a striker hitting form at precisely the right moment.