Toronto FC (11W-16L-3T, 36 points) dropped a 0-2 result to the defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew (15W-5L-8T, 53 points) at BMO Field on Wednesday evening.
First Half:
Toronto FC Head Coach John Herdman made a pair of changes from his starting line-up that defeated Austin FC on the weekend with Sigurd Rosted and Derrick Etienne Jr. coming in for Henry Wingo and Nicksoen Gomis.
With the hosts dominating majority of the proceedings through the first 45 minutes, Toronto FC conjured the two best goalscoring opportunities of the half but were unable to convert their chances.
First, Federico Bernardeschi nearly opened the scoring when he cut inside from the right wing and unleashed a fierce left-footed shot that rattled off the crossbar in the seventh minute. Fifteen minutes later, Lorenzo Insigne ran onto Bernardeschi’s cut-back pass in the box and saw his well-struck effort denied by a fine kick save by Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.
With the two Eastern Conference clubs unable to find a breakthrough, the two sides entered the half-time interval goalless at BMO Field.
Second Half:
Columbus Crew broke the deadlock six minutes into the restart when half-time substitute Cucho Hernández was teed up by Jacen Russell-Rowe and curled an effort home from just outside of the Toronto penalty area.
The defending MLS Cup champions doubled their advantage when Andrés Herrera found the net from close-range to score his first Major League Soccer goal. The 70th minute effort stood despite protests from the Reds and the home faithful highlighting a potential foul in the box on Raoul Petretta in the build-up.
TFC midfielder Brandon Servania entered the field of play for the Reds in the 82nd minute, making his long-awaited return to MLS action after sustaining a knee injury 364 days ago against Inter Miami CF on September 20, 2023.
The Reds were unable to find a breakthrough to spark a late comeback at BMO Field, ultimately falling by a score of 0-2 to the Black & Gold in the midweek MLS affair.
Toronto FC continue a busy September stretch and hit the road next to take on Colorado Rapids in their third MLS match in eight days. Kickoff from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is set for 9:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
LINEUPS
TORONTO FC – Sean Johnson; Richie Laryea, Sigurd Rosted, Raoul Petretta; Federico Bernardeschi, Alonso Coello, Matty Longstaff (Brandon Servania 82’), Derrick Etienne Jr.; Jonathan Osorio (C) (Tyrese Spicer 46’), Lorenzo Insigne (Kosi Thompson 70’), Deandre Kerr (Prince Owusu 82’)
Substitutes Not Used: Luca Gavran, Aimé Mabika, Kobe Franklin, Nathaniel Edwards, Deybi Flores
COLUMBUS CREW – Patrick Schulte; Yevhen Cheberko, Rudy Camacho, Malte Amundsen; Andrés Herrera, Sean Zawadzki (C), DeJuan Jones (Max Arfsten 66’), Derrick Jones (Yaw Yeboah 90+3); Dylan Chambost (Alexandru Matan 85’), Diego Rossi (Cucho Hernández 46’), Jacen Russell-Rowe (Aziel Jackson 66’)
Substitutes Not Used: Nicholas Hagen, Steven Moreira, Darlington Nagbe, Christian RamÃrez
MEDIA NOTES
- Derrick Etienne Jr. made his 200th Major League Soccer appearance in his ninth season (2016 – 2024) split between New York Red Bulls, FC Cincinnati, Columbus Crew, Atlanta United and Toronto FC.
POSTMATCH SOUND
- Link can be found here.
