Toronto FC x Columbus Crew SC
Toronto FC started the season with back-to-back road losses and looked every bit the rebuilding project everyone said they'd be. Then they rattled off three games without a loss, capped by a 2-1 comeback win over Columbus at BMO Field on Saturday. José Cifuentes and Walker Zimmerman both scored their first goals for the club, and suddenly this team that was supposed to struggle looks like they've figured something out.
Columbus jumped ahead in the fourth minute when Dylan Chambost played a long ball down the left to Max Arfsten, who sent an arcing cross to Wessam Abou Ali for a header from the top of the six-yard box. Abou Ali's got six goals and two assists in just 10 career MLS appearances, the kind of scoring rate that makes you think he's figured out the league already. One-nil Crew. Early lead at BMO Field.
A past Toronto FC team might have totally capitulated after conceding first — like the 3-0 loss in Vancouver in their second game of the season. But not this version. The Reds defended well and only allowed one other shot on target in the match. Diego Rossi almost made it two-nil in the 52nd minute when he picked up a pass on a counter and right-footed a shot off the left post. So close to putting the game away. Instead it stayed 1-0 and Toronto kept chipping away.
The equalizer came in the 56th minute when Cifuentes collected a pass from Daniel Salloi, settled it down, then right-footed a shot from the center of the box into the far corner. Canadian international Richie Laryea picked up an assist on the goal too. First goal for Cifuentes since July 12, 2023, nearly two years between MLS goals, and he picks now to break the drought. One-one. Game on.
Seconds later, Columbus keeper Patrick Schulte had to make a diving save on a right-footer by Salloi from just outside the box. The momentum had completely shifted. Toronto smelled blood.
Walker Zimmerman scored the winner in the 83rd minute, heading a corner kick from Djordje Mihailovic from the center of the box into the Columbus goal. Zimmerman joined TFC as a free agent in January after six seasons with Nashville, and now he's got his first goal for the club at exactly the right time. Two-one. "Special in the sense that you always want to score at an important time," Zimmerman said afterward. "I knew we needed three points and it felt like, at the time, it would secure us the win".
The win was especially gratifying after they allowed a goal in the 98th minute to New York Red Bulls last weekend, settling for a disappointing 1-1 tie in their home opener. "To be on the right side of a late goal felt really good," Zimmerman said. "It was frustrating last week, not only with the result, but the way we played at home. We felt we left a lot on the table".
This was Josh Sargent's first TFC start as their big DP striker signing, but he was replaced by Mihailovic to start the second half. Coach Robin Fraser said Sargent being substituted was planned, which is either good roster management or a worrying sign that their marquee striker can't go 90 yet. Either way, Mihailovic came on and assisted the winner, so it worked out.
Toronto outshot Columbus 12-7, had seven shots on goal to Columbus's four. Captain Jonathan Osorio said "we looked at each other and we knew that there's lots of game to play still. We were confident that if we played the way we know how to play, we were always going to have a chance to win this game".
Columbus dropped to winless through five games, sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. They held a slight advantage in possession, 54 percent to 46, but it didn't matter. Toronto's got nine consecutive home matches coming up, and if they've got any hope of making the playoffs, they need to bank points now while BMO Field is home.
Two wins, a draw, two losses. Three-game unbeaten streak. After starting 0-2 and looking like the rebuild was going to be painful, Toronto's found some life. Cifuentes and Zimmerman getting their first goals. Comebacks instead of collapses. The kind of resilience that makes you think maybe this season won't be a total disaster after all.
[Photography by acethetic.film]
