Columbus Crew SC won their home opener tonight 2-0 against Toronto FC at the newly named MAPFRE Stadium thanks to some help from the officials as Justin Morrow was controversially dismissed just before halftime.
Toronto came into tonight’s game with an expensively assembled front line of Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco, and the interchange of their attacking play was causing Columbus some early trouble. Giovinco twice found space behind the defense, but both times he was unable to trouble Steve Clark.
As the half continued Columbus started to come into the game thanks to some help from a shaky looking Toronto defense. New signing Kei Kamara had looked destined to give Columbus the lead early on as he turned on the edge of the six-yard box, but his shot brought a great reaction save from Joe Bendik.
The game changed on the stroke of half time when Ethan Finlay intercepted a poor pass and broke towards Toronto’s goal. The chasing back Justin Morrow slid and appeared to win the ball with a challenge on the edge of the area, but referee David Gantar saw things differently and deemed the challenge a dangerous foul and duly sent him off.
The red card spoiled the game as a spectacle with Columbus now dominating the ball and on 57 minutes the Crew SC finally made the breakthrough. The cause of the goal was more about poor defending than being a man up when Finlay delivered a right wing cross and no one picked up the onrushing Justin Meram to place a header beyond Bendik in Toronto’s goal.
Just four minutes later the game was over as a contest as Kamara opened his account for the Crew SC. Again poor marking from crosses was the Toronto’s downfall as Waylon Francis left field cross found Kamara free in the center and he applied the finish from close range.
Columbus pushed for the third, but were unable to find the finish with Subside Sports Man of the Match Justin Meram hitting both the post and crossbar. Tonight two of Gregg Berhalter’s summer signings shone with Kamara providing power, pace, and strength upfront and Mohammed Saeid giving a battling midfield performance.
