Who: Columbus Crew SC (3-7-7) vs. Toronto FC (6-6-5)
When: Wednesday, July 13, 7:00 PM ET TV: TSN 2
Where: MAPFRE Stadium - Columbus, OH
There is a new Kamara in town and he hasn’t missed a beat. Since Kei Kamara’s very public falling out with the Crew it’s been Ola Kamara that’s picked up the pieces and led the line for the Crew. The 26-year-old has recorded eight goals in his last five starts for Columbus and he’s impressed Berhalter. “I've been telling a lot of our local media and some of the national media, his movement is outstanding,” said Berhalter in early July. “He gets in very good spots.” Stopping Kamara from getting into those spots will be up to Drew Moor and Eriq Zavaleta, who have played excellently together since being paired up.
- Both sides will be looking for a win as they jockey for position in the playoff picture. Toronto FC currently sit in fifth place in the East, while Crew SC are in ninth. This meeting could also mark the return of Reds striker Jozy Altidore, who missed the clubs' first encounter of 2016 due to a hamstring injury but resumed training last week.
- The teams met three times a season ago, with Crew SC winning twice (and one draw) – victorious once on each ground. Crew SC won 2-0 on March 14 at Mapfre Stadium, their first home win in the series since 2013. TFC have won just three matches all-time in Columbus – two of those coming in 2014, when they won all three meetings that season.
- Crew SC then won in the season series finale, a 2-0 win Oct. 17 at BMO Field, ending a two-game home winning streak for TFC in the series. Those two victories were TFC’s first ever at BMO Field in the series, after three losses and five draws over the first six-plus seasons.
- The Trillium Cup rivals played to a 0-0 draw in their first meeting of 2016, on May 21.
- Ola Kamara scored for a third consecutive game – with four goals over that span – but Crew SC suffered a second consecutive defeat and saw their winless streak reach five games in a 3-1 loss at the New England Revolution on Saturday evening. Kamara now has eight goals in MLS play, all coming over the last six games, since May 28.
- Toronto FC made it five home games in a row without loss, Justin Morrow netting the game’s only goal for the victory against the Chicago Fire on Saturday evening at BMO Field.
- Crew SC have come away with points now on their last two trips to Toronto. TFC had won back-to-back home games in the series before that – TFC’s first wins ever at BMO Field in the series, after three losses and five draws over the first six-plus seasons.
