Wednesday marks the 20 thanniversary of the Crew's first game, a 4-0 win over D.C. United on April 13, 1996, in front of 25,266 in Ohio Stadium.

Anyone who was there will never forget the final goal, scored by Brian McBride with an assist from goalie Bo Oshoniyi. McBride, who finished with two goals and one assist, head-volleyed a 70-yard punt to himself and scored on a one-timer. It sent the place into a frenzy.

"I never scored anything like it again," McBride told former Dispatch reporter Craig Merz in 2011. It was definitely the most unique goal I've ever scored."

The pasting of eventual champion D.C. United was an auspicious start to MLS in Columbus, where more than 11,000 season tickets were sold for the inaugural season.

Late Crew founder Lamar Hunt was...

Wednesday marks the 20 th anniversary of the Crew�s first game, a 4-0 win over D.C. United on April 13, 1996, in front of 25,266 in Ohio Stadium.

Anyone who was there will never forget the final goal, scored by Brian McBride with an assist from goalie Bo Oshoniyi. McBride, who finished with two goals and one assist, head-volleyed a 70-yard punt to himself and scored on a one-timer. It sent the place into a frenzy.

�I never scored anything like it again,� McBride told former Dispatch reporter Craig Merz in 2011. It was definitely the most unique goal I�ve ever scored.�

The pasting of eventual champion D.C. United was an auspicious start to MLS in Columbus, where more than 11,000 season tickets were sold for the inaugural season.

Late Crew founder Lamar Hunt was presented with the game ball afterward.

"It was a memorable night," Hunt told The Dispatch. "I don't know if I've ever been involved in anything that had a more exciting start in my life. It was just bedlam out here. Heck, the crowd was going for blood at the end. They wanted more goals. It was a very tuned-in crowd.�

The Crew�s lineup that night: GK Bo Oshoniyi; D Shane Battelle, Mike Clark, Janusz Michalik, Mark Watson; MF Brian Bliss, Doctor Khumalo, Adrian Paz (Mac Cozier 78), Billy Thompson. F Pete Marino (Brian Maisonneuve 72), Brian McBride.

McBride scored twice and Marino added a goal for the Crew. The first MLS goal ever scored in Columbus was an own goal. D.C. United defender Thor Lee did the honors.

This old VHS video captures the vibe of that first season. It�s worth a look, if for nothing more than an incredible stretch near the five-minute mark that includes footage of McBride�s miracle goal and, just before it, a clip of an NFL-like collision between McBride and New England defender Alexi Lalas.

The impact of that hit sent both men sprawling, and Lalas, on his rump, reacts with some spikes to the leg of McBride.

Ah, the memories.

--Shawn Mitchell

smitchell@dispatch.com

@smitchcd