Toronto FC x Columbus Crew SC

Toronto FC and the Columbus Crew delivered a tense and dramatic Trillium Cup clash at BMO Field that ended in a 1-1 draw, a match that had everything from early fireworks to late drama.

The Crew wasted no time making their mark. Just eight minutes in, Diego Rossi pounced on a loose ball at the top of the box and unleashed a sweet half-volley that flew past Sean Johnson to give Columbus the early lead. It was the kind of sharp finish that showcased why Rossi is such a constant threat, and Toronto suddenly found themselves chasing the game.

Columbus nearly doubled their advantage before the half when Andrés Herrera broke free, but Johnson stood tall and denied him with a crucial save. Toronto, for their part, had chances of their own—DeAndre Kerr forced a strong stop from Patrick Schulte, and the Reds were frustrated when Djordje Mihailović went down in the box with no penalty given. At halftime, Columbus still held the edge, but the momentum felt like it could shift.

And shift it did. Toronto came out of the break hungrier and with fresh legs off the bench, and in the 77th minute, new signing Jules-Anthony Vilsaint announced himself in spectacular fashion. On just his second touch in MLS, the debutant connected cleanly with a Mihailović cross after a scrambled corner, slamming home the equalizer and sending the home crowd into raptures. It was a dream debut moment that instantly energized his team.

The drama didn’t end there. Moments later, Columbus thought they had stolen the lead back, only for the goal to be chalked off after a tight offside review. The Crew pushed late, testing Johnson again in stoppage time, but the veteran keeper came up big to preserve the point for Toronto.

When the dust settled, both sides were left with mixed feelings. Columbus extended their unbeaten streak against Toronto but will rue letting an early lead slip away. Toronto, meanwhile, showed resilience and celebrated a new hero in Vilsaint, who turned what looked like a loss into a memorable night.

[Photography by acethetic.film]