The biggest thorn in Toronto’s side for its four seasons of existence has been the Columbus Crew. The Reds have never beaten them, and since the Trillium Cup came to being in 2008, the BMO Field outfit had to watch the men in yellow walk away with it each year. The Ohio side even has a healthy 2-0 aggregate lead on it this season after beating Toronto in the first encounter.
[inline_node:4233]So it had to come as a pleasant surprise to Reds’ fans to see the Crew struggle at home yesterday against Kansas City. First-year Canadian striker Teal Bunbury put the Wizards ahead 1-0 at the 14th minute, but Columbus couldn’t muster a response as the 20-year old Hamiltonian’s goal stood as the winner.
Now Toronto, riding on its eight-match MLS unbeaten streak, finds itself just six points behind the Crew with a game in hand.
The Reds sit in third place in the Eastern Conference. This weekend they travel to Philadelphia for a tricky test against the expansion side at their new stadium, while Columbus will be challenged severely by second place New York who could move into first with a win.
The addition of Thierry Henry and whispers of a possible third superstar being added to the Red Bulls’ squad alongside Juan Pablo Angel makes them a favourite to catch and surpass Columbus in the East.
Should the Red Bulls pull ahead and become the runaway success as they are expected to be with their recent acquisitions, it sets up a mouth-watering battle for the second and final automatic playoff berth from the division between Columbus and Toronto.
Since starting the season on an eight-game unbeaten streak, Columbus has slowed. They have just a pair of wins and draws in their last seven games with losses coming against Los Angeles, Colorado and in last night’s jumbled affair versus Kansas City.
Their once formidable backline seems shaken, sure-handed goalkeeper Will Hesmer is making mistakes, the talented Robbie Rogers has struggled since being snubbed for a U.S. World Cup spot, and the talismanic Guillermo Barros Schelotto is starting to look his age.
Contrast that form with Toronto. Since the Reds’ last loss on May 1 to Real Salt Lake, Preki’s players have four wins and draws and have become every bit of a difficult team to beat as the coach had talked about in those early days of doom and gloom when only he seemed to know the plan.
If things continue to progress in this fashion into the fall with the Reds in ascendency and the Crew looking disorganized, Columbus’ October 16 visit to BMO Field would provide the perfect setting to finally end the four-year hoodoo, and propel Toronto into its first MLS Cup playoff berth.
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