Walker Zimmerman scored in the 83rd minute to lift host Toronto FC to a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Crew on Saturday.
Zimmerman’s header off a corner kick earned Toronto FC (2-2-1, 7 points) the first win of their nine-game homestand after Jose Cifuentes equalized earlier in the half. The 27-year-old Ecuadorian international had been listed as questionable to play with a knee injury the day before.
Striker Wessam Abou Ali opened the scoring for Columbus in the fourth minute, rising above Toronto midfielder Alonso Coello to head Max Arfsten’s floated cross perfectly into the top corner of the goal. The early strike marked the first goal of the month for the Crew (0-3-2, 2 points).
Daniel Salloi cut the ball through the box and into the feet of Cifuentes, who blasted it past Patrick Schulte in the 56th minute. Salloi, a Hungarian international, continued his red-hot start with the assist serving as his third goal contribution of the young season.
The home side had the bulk of shot attempts in the first half, tallying eight to Columbus’ two. Josh Sargent had a terrific opportunity to equalize soon after Abou Ali’s opener, but arrived just late to Raheem Edwards’ cross to the far post, squaring the ball into Schulte’s waiting gloves.
Sargent started his first match for TFC after making his club debut late in Toronto’s home opener last week. The MLS-record American transfer signing was substituted for fellow Designated Player Djordje Mihailovic at the start of the second half.
Diego Rossi nearly extended the Crew’s lead after the swap, gliding past two defenders only to hit the woodwork in the 52nd minute.
Columbus fans may begin to wonder whether head coach Henrik Rydstrom will persist with a back four – a marked departure from previous manager Wilfried Nancy’s system. Crew captain Sean Zawadzki dropped into the backline to take Rudy Camacho’s usual spot in the central defense.
The win marked TFC’s first against the Crew in 11 encounters.
–Field Level Media
