With the 2-0 win, Columbus Crew SC clinched both a berth in the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs as well as the 2015 Trillium Cup. The Black & Gold are headed to the postseason for the second time in as many seasons under Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. Crew SC also captured the Trillium Cup rivalry series against Toronto for the sixth time in the eight-season history of the competition.
Midfielder Ethan Finlay opened the scoring with his 10th goal of the 2015 MLS regular season in the 40th minute of this afternoon’s contest. It is the second consecutive double-digit goal-scoring season for Finlay, after he recorded 11 tallies in 2014. Finlay now has 10 goals and 13 assists in the 2015 regular season, and he is one of three players league-wide to reach double digits in both categories.
Designated Player Federico Higuain notched a goal and an assist this afternoon in what was his 100th career regular-season start for Crew SC. The assist, a game-winning helper, was his 10th all-time, tying him with Guillermo Barros Schelotto for fourth place on the all-time club list. The goal was Higuain’s 35th career tally, tying him with Eddie Gaven for fifth place on the all-time Columbus scoring list.
Goalkeeper Steve Clark made six saves for Crew SC while keeping his fifth clean sheet of the 2015 regular season in the win. It was the ninth performance of Clark’s career with at least six saves as well as the Michigan native’s 13th all-time clean sheet.
It was also a record night for forward Aaron Schoenfeld, who made his 50th all-time Crew SC appearance in the contest by entering the match as a second-half substitute.
Crew SC next plays on Sunday, October 25 as it concludes the MLS regular season at MAPFRE Stadium against D.C. United (5:00 p.m. ET / Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, CD102.5 FM, 103.1 FM La Mega).
