Sporting KC plays Columbus Crew to 2-2 draw in preseason opener

The 72nd pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft belonged to Sporting Kansas City, and with the club looking for help in its midfield, it opted Saint Louis University product Faik Hajderovic.

He provided his first highlight in an exhibition match Wednesday.

Hajderovic scored the game-tying goal in the 88th minute of a 2-2 draw against Columbus in the opener of the Desert Diamond Cup preseason tournament at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz.

Former Sporting KC forward Kei Kamara scored twice for Columbus, with his brace interrupted by a goal from Sporting KC midfielder Soni Mustivar.

“It was just a choppy game — too many situations where we lost possession,” Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes said. “When that happens, you end up having to do a lot of unnecessary running, which we did.”

Earlier Wednesday, Sporting KC agreed to loan Bernardo Añor to Minnesota United FC of the North American Soccer League for the 2016 season. Añor made 13 appearances across all competitions in 2015.

Defender Marcel de Jong and midfielder Amobi Okugo also did not travel back to Tucson for training camp. They are unlikely to rejoin the team.

Sporting KC continues its round-robin schedule in the Desert Diamond Cup on Saturday, when it faces New England at 8:30 p.m.

The Swope Park Rangers, Sporting KC’s new United Soccer League club, also is participating in the Desert Diamond Cup. The Rangers defeated Colorado 3-1 on Wednesday night.

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 10:04 PM with the headline "Sporting KC plays Columbus Crew to 2-2 draw in preseason opener."