The Columbus Crew came storming back to grab a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC Saturday afternoon at BMO Field and stayed firmly in the MLS playoff picture.
It took TFC just two minutes to put an end to their MLS-record scoreless drought, but Jason Garey's first goal of the season, followed by the winner from substitute Jason Thomas in the 83rd minute, gave Columbus the victory and extended Toronto's winless streak to 10 games.
The win was the first for the Crew since July 22, also against Toronto, and moved Columbus into a tie for eighth place overall with the Chicago Fire. Chicago, which holds the tiebreaker having won two of the three games in the regular season series between the clubs, plays host to D.C. United on Sunday. The Colorado Rapids, two points behind in 10th place, play later tonight at Real Salt Lake.
Miguel Canizalez was the unlikely hero who put Toronto on the scoreboard for the first time since July 7. The midfielder scored the first goal of his MLS career little more than a minute into the match for the quickest score in a game in TFC's short history. The goal officially ended Toronto's scoreless streak at 824 minutes -- a span of more than nine full games.
The Reds have been frustrated by early scoring chances that went for naught in recent matches, but against the Crew, TFC was finally able to convert and jump out to an early lead in the second minute. A one-touch passing series from Collin Samuel, Todd Dunivant and Jim Brennan moved the ball down the left side into the Columbus penalty area, and Brennan finished the run with a cross. The ball bounced around in front and was nearly kicked away by Crew defender Danny O'Rourke, but Canizalez was there to knock the deflected ball inside the right post.
The quick start was short-lived for TFC as the Crew controlled the pace for most of the next 15 minutes. Columbus managed three shots on goal against Toronto goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos, but none were particularly impressive. The Crew was missing the finishing touch of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who is still recovering from a strained right hamstring suffered Sept. 8 against Chicago.
The closest chance for Columbus was an innocuous-looking long-range shot from midfielder Eddie Gaven that seemed to confuse Stamatopoulos. The keeper had to awkwardly knock the ball over the net instead of simply catching it, which gave the Crew a corner kick. Gaven took the corner and took another shot a few seconds later, but this effort was easily handled by Stamatopoulos.
An unusual chance presented itself for the Reds just before halftime. Samuel made a pass that ricocheted off a Columbus player and went to TFC striker Jeff Cunningham, who was behind the ball. Cunningham held up thinking he was offside, but after no call came, the forward resumed his breakaway on the Crew net. Hesmer never lost focus on the play and was there to knock away the hard strike from the former Crew striker from just inside the penalty area.
The Crew got on the board in the 61st minute, as Stamatopoulos stumbled as he attempted to catch a cross which allowed the ball to roll to Gaven on the left side of the goal area. Gaven passed in front to striker Jason Garey, who calmly controlled and placed the ball past a charging Stamatopoulos and into the left side of the net.
It was the first goal of the season for Garey after he netted five in his 2006 rookie season. The former University of Maryland star was making his second consecutive start in place of Schelotto.
As for the Reds, their attack was nowhere to be found at the start of the second half. Cunningham, who was making just his second start since July 4 due to a sports hernia, was replaced by Andrea Lombardo at the 58-minute mark and the insertion of the young Canadian seemed to wake the club up.
Lombardo had a good chance in the 73rd minute when Todd Dunivant's header sprung the striker down the left side. A charging Hesmer cut off Lombardo's shot nearly before it even left the forward's foot. TFC spent much of the next few minutes in the Columbus penalty area, which resulted in two unsuccessful shots by Samuel.
It was the Crew, however, who managed the go-ahead goal on a tremendous individual effort from Thomas. He took the ball near midfield and proceeded to carry it the length of the field, evading Reds defender Andrew Boyens near the penalty line and then firing a hard strike past a diving Stamatopoulos. It was the first goal of the season for Thomas, who replaced forward Andy Herron in the 58th minute.
The Crew returns to action next Sunday, Sept. 30, when it will play host to the Los Angeles Galaxy at 5 p.m.
