Toronto FC returned from the international break with a first ever victory over Columbus Crew on Saturday night, beating them 4-2 away in Ohio and lifting the 2011 Trillium Cup.
The Trillium Cup is awarded to the side with the best head-to-head regular season record. In its first three years, Toronto has had to endure watching the Crew take the trophy to Ohio each time. On Saturday though, an 82nd minute goal by Julian de Guzman put Toronto 3-1 ahead and despite conceding late, the Reds managed to hang on for the maximum points. The Canadian international's strike was particularly important because Toronto was under immense pressure after losing goalkeeper Stefan Frei to an injury 20 minutes earler. The Crew had cut the Reds' lead to 2-1, but de Guzman showed that Toronto traveled to fight for points. The holding midfielder barged into Columbus' Kevin Burns with a strong shoulder challenge, collected the ball and placed it expertly into Will Hesmer's near post for his second MLS goal this year.
Toronto Finally Tames Columbus
Toronto displayed one of the most controlled opening 45 minutes of the season away from home, winning for the first time on the road in MLS for 2011.
They were unlucky not to score at the ninth minute when Ryan Johnson's header went off the crossbar from a Hesmer tip. Columbus countered but Frei stood strong making a save on Robbie Rogers. Toronto took confidence from their keeper's play and continued to press for a breakthrough, which arrived at the 21st minute through Nick Soolsma putting the Reds up 1-0 on his return to the lineup. Toronto added a second goal three minutes from intermission when Johnson refused to be denied again, this time finishing on a Joao Plata offering with an incredible header catching Hesmer off his line. The 2-0 lead for Toronto at the break took the Reds within 45 minutes of many firsts for the club this year and its five seasons.
Many Toronto supporters likely feared the worst when Stefan Frei was injured on a collision with Emilio Renteria at the 62nd minute. Immediately upon the keeper's exit, Tommy Heinemann cut the lead to 2-1 at the 67th to increase tension.
The Reds remained bullish with de Guzman's strike for a 3-1 advantage, but again Columbus came charging back four minutes later to make it a one goal game through Andres Mendoza. With six minutes added to regulation there was plenty of time for the Crew to break the hearts of the traveling Toronto faithful with a late goal just as Jason Garey had back on July 25, 2009 for Columbus. However, Danny Koevermans wouldn't have it. A pair of TFC designated players linked up two minutes into stoppage time with de Guzman sending a 40-yard pass for the Dutch forward, who comfortably rounded Hesmer before scoring his fourth goal in six MLS appearances for Toronto, and sealing the Trillium Cup 4-2 in TFC's favour.
As Koevermans rounded Hesmer, GOL TV Canada had one camera fixed on Frei - now standing on crutches. It was a good decision by the broadcast team, capturing this reaction from the Swiss sentinel.
Frei was replaced by Milos Kocic following his injury, but while some would remain in the dressing room to receive treatment, the Toronto keeper's passion for the badge was evident as he returned to the sidelines to lend an additional supporting voice. After the many tortured memories of yesteryear, who could blame him for wishing to witness firsthand the Reds finally getting the best of Columbus? His expressions, the gaze widening as de Guzman laid a perfect ball in Koevermans' path; the gnashing of teeth as the Dutch striker rounded Hesmer; and the last celebratory release when he knew it was finally over, a reward well earned for those long suffering in this fixture.
Toronto - Stefan Frei (Milos Kocic 66'); Richard Eckersley, Ty Harden, Andy Iro, Ashtone Morgan; Julian de Guzman, Eric Avila, Torsten Frings; Joao Plata, Nick Soolsma (Matt Stinson 80') Ryan Johnson (Danny Koevermans 87') ... Substitutes Not Used: Danleigh Borman, Peri Marosevic, Eddy Viator, Mikael Yourassowsky ... Goals: Soolsma 21' Johnson 42' de Guzman 82' Koevermans 90+2' ... Caution: Harden 37' Avila 82'
Columbus - William Hesmer; Sebastian Miranda, Chad Marshall, Julius James, Josh Gardner; Robbie Rogers, Emmanuel Ekpo, Rich Balchan (Kevin Burns 80'), Dilly Duka (Jeff Cunningham 74); Andres Mendoza, Emilio Renteria (Tommy Heinemann 65') ... Substitutes Not Used: Chris Konopka; Shaun Francis, Justin Meram, Danny O'Rourke ... Goals: Heinemann 67' Mendoza 87' ... Caution: Miranda 73'
On the match…
“We played today against a good team, a good opponent. They’re doing very well in the league, and if you watched the whole game, the goals we scored were great. After Stefan [Frei] got hurt there was about five minutes that we weren’t very organized, but then they scored and the team reacted well.”
On being opportunistic on goals…
“All the goals, the movement, how we played in the final entry, I think we did well. Most of the games we have created a lot of opportunities but we were not sharp enough with finishing, but today we were sharp with our opportunities even though they weren’t that good.”
