Prior to the start of the 2010 MLS season, the Crew began play in the CONCACAF Champions League, with a quarterfinal-fixture against Group C-winner, Toluca of Mexico.

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.

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.

Columbus began their fifteenth Major League Soccer regular season at home with a 2–0 win in a match against Toronto FC on March 27, 2010.

[6] 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.

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.