The 2010 Columbus Crew season was the club's 15th season of existence and their 15th consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of soccer in the United States and Canada. The first match of the season was on March 27 against Toronto FC. It was the second season under head coach Robert Warzycha.
Prior to the start of the 2010 MLS season, the Crew began play in the CONCACAF Champions League, with a quarterfinal-fixture against Group B winner, Toluca of Mexico.
During group stage, the Crew finished in a second place in their group with an even 2-2-2 record, narrowly edging the Costa Rican champions Saprissa to become the only American club in the knockout stage. On February 22, 2010; Columbus hosted Toluca before 4,500 people at Crew Stadium for the first leg. For the match, Columbus would be missing veteran striker Guillermo Barros Schelotto and defender Frankie Hejduk.
In the match, Mexican-international Sinha opened the scoring giving Los Rojos a critical away goal and the lead over the Crew. Following the goal near misses from Steven Lenhart and Eddie Gaven later on in the half almost drew things level. Shortly before halftime, however, Antonio RÃÂos doubled the lead for Toluca giving them a very strong advantage. However, the Rojos would relinquish their lead in the second half. Lenhart would bag a pair of goals in the 66th and 83rd minute of play to draw the match back on parity, and the Crew would head to Toluca tied at two on aggregate.
As of Aug 5, 2010.
The Crew started preseason in Columbus and played games in Florida and Arizona before returning to Ohio. The Crew brought in the following trialists during training camp Ray Burse, Hugo Acosta, Kamil Witkowski, Doudou Touré, Yevhen Bredun, Sergei Kosov, Ireneusz Kowalski, Carlos Diaz, Conor O'Brien and Miloà ¡ KociÃÂ.
Unsigned draft picks Dilly Duka, Bright Dike, Shaun Francis and Othaniel Yanez also joined the team for preseason.
The Crew played some friendly matches during the season to keep fit during bye weeks or to get reserve players minutes. Saidi Isaac, Douglas Reisinger, Michael Amicone were guest players against Marshall Thundering Herd, assistant coach Mike Lapper subbed in against Michigan State Spartans, John Owoeri was a guest player against Duquesne Dukes, and draft pick Kwaku Nyamekye joined the team for the match against Dayton Dutch Lions.
Prior to 2010, the Columbus Crew had been to the U.S. Open Cup final twice in 1998 and 2002 and only won the cup once in 2002. On June 29, 2010, the Crew began the competition in the third round hosting the Rochester Rhinos of the D2 Pro League at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The Crew's Andy Iro scored first in the 30th minute by heading in a corner kick from teammate Eddie Gavin. Later, in the second half, Rochester evened the score at one when substitute Darren Spicer scored from 17 yards out. The Rhinos' Alfonso Motagalvan was sent off in the 84th minute for a dangerous tackle on Emilio RenterÃÂa forcing Rochester to play the final minutes of the game with just ten men on the field. The score remained level until the 4th minute of stoppage time when Steven Lenhart scored on a "half volley" giving Columbus the victory.
A week later on July 6, Columbus faced the Charleston Battery of the USL Second Division in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals. The match was hosted by Columbus, again at Crew Stadium. In the 37th minute, Steven Lenhart was fouled in the penalty area while going for a cross and the referee signalled for a penalty kick. Emilio RenterÃÂa took the penalty kick and drove a right-footed shot into the back of the net making the score 1âÂÂ0. Columbus extended their lead in the 70th minute on a goal from Steven Lenhart, and again in the 87th minute when Eddie Gavin scored off of a pass from Emmanuel Ekpo. The Crew won 3âÂÂ0 earning their first U.S. Open Cup semifinal appearance since 2002.
On September 1, 2010, the Columbus Crew visited Washington, D.C. to face MLS club D.C. United in their semifinal match at RFK Stadium. Pablo Hernández scored in the 17th minute on a penalty kick to give D.C. an early lead at 1âÂÂ0. D.C. United almost kept that lead for the victory until the 89th minute when United's Marc Burch deflected a shot by Columbus's Andy Iro into the net for an own goal, tying the score and sending the match into extra time. In the 98th minute, the Crew's Steven Lenhart dribbled the ball into the 18-yard box and was tripped by D.C. United's Carey Talley to draw a penalty. Guillermo Barros Schelotto took the penalty kick and scored the game-winning goal. The 2âÂÂ1 final score secured the Columbus Crew's spot in the final.
Under "Apps" for each section, the first number represents the number of starts, and the second number represents appearances as a substitute.
|- |colspan=12 align=center|Players who left Columbus during the season:
Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only those who are signed to a contract will be listed as transfers in. The picks for the Columbus Crew are listed below: