Harrison Afful makes Columbus Crew debut

Ghana international defender Harrison Afful finally made his debut for American side Columbus Crew after playing part in their 2-2 stalemate with New York City FC in the Major League Soccer on Wednesday night.

Afful, 29, had waited for three weeks to play his first official game for the Crew and he finally took to the field on Wednesday night after Crew boss Gregg Berhalter handed him a spot in his starting line-up and he lasted until the hour mark when American defender Hector Jimenez replaced him.

Sierra Leonean goal monger Kei Kamara had fired the hosts into an early lead at the Columbus Crew Stadium but Ghanaian youth midfielder Kwado Poku scored twice to put the visitors ahead before the DR Congo attacker Cedrick grabbed the leveller for Crew with 18 minutes left.

Afful will have to work to seal a permanent starting role in the Crew line-up after an unconvincing debut in the American top-flight.

The former Asante Kotoko defender left Tunisian giants Esperance de Tunis to sign for Crew after six seasons with the club.