Columbus Crew SC vs. Toronto FC | 2019 MLS Match Preview

2019 MLS Regular Season - Week 24
Columbus Crew SC vs. Toronto FC
MAPFRE Stadium - Columbus
August 17 - 7:30 PM ET

TV: TSN 4

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US

Columbus Crew SC look to make it six games without defeat when they host a Toronto FC side trying to push above the playoff line in a meeting Eastern Conference foes at MAPFRE Stadium Saturday night.

The Crew (7-14-5) rallied from an early two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against FC Cincinnati in the first Hell is Real MLS regular season meeting last Saturday at home. Darren Mattocks and Emmanuel Ledesma staked the visitors to a 2-0 lead inside 23 minutes. Gyasi Zardes pulled Columbus a goal back from the penalty spot just before the stroke of halftime and Pedro Santos leveled in the 62nd minute. Zardes had golden chances late to score the decisive goal, but couldn't put a second goal past Przemyslaw Tyton, leaving the Crew seven points adrift of the playoff line.

Toronto FC (9-10-6) also left unsatisfied after a 1-1 home draw against Orlando City SC last weekend. Benji Michel broke the deadlock in the 69th minute before Patrick Mullins equalized eight minutes later.Then in midweek, powered by a Nick DeLeon brace, the Reds cruised to another Canadian Championship final, beating the Ottawa Fury 3-0 at BMO Field and advancing 5-0 on aggregate. 

Columbus vs. Toronto FC

Saturday, August 17 at 7:30 PM ET
MAPFRE Stadium

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Columbus Crew SC

• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Federico Higuain (M) - right knee injury
  • OUT: Milton Valenzuela (D) - right knee injury
  • OUT: Hector Jimenez (D) - left knee injury
  • OUT: Aboubacar Keita (D) - left thigh injury
  • OUT: Ricardo Clark (M) - left foot injury
  • QUESTIONABLE: Josh Williams (D) - right thigh injury
  • QUESTIONABLE: Waylon Francis (D) - left thigh injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty:  None

Toronto FC

• Injury Report:
  • QUESTIONABLE: None
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

Series Matchup at Crew SC

• Crew SC: 9 wins, 34 goals
• Toronto FC: 4 wins, 26 goals
• 5 draws

Officials

• Referee: Ramy Touchan
• Assistant Referees:  Ian Anderson, Matthew Nelson
• 4th Official:  Rubiel Vazquez
• VAR:  Alan Kelly