Toronto FC and Columbus Crew Play to Another Uninspired Draw

A look back at the 1-1 draw between Toronto FC and Columbus Crew that started out slow, but ramped up towards the end.

The second edition of the Trillium Cup has wrapped up, and both teams hoped to improve on the initial 0-0 draw earlier on in the season. But with both sides being shorthanded, another uninspiring draw, where neither team deserved all three points, ended up being the result.

For Toronto FC, goals were always going to be harder to come by with Jozy Altidore still out, and Sebastian Giovinco getting the rest. The Italian hasn’t scored in his last seven MLS matches, and he needs a break to regain his footing.

When the team sheets were released, Toronto FC unveiled a very young lineup. They put three at the back and had Mo Babouli and Jordan Hamilton up front; you sensed that they would try to play for another 1-0 result.

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Columbus dominated possession in the first half, holding a 68-32% advantage, but Toronto FC’s backline did a good job of cutting off most of their options and closing down the scoring chances that they did create.

With just a five-man bench, Toronto’s injury problems went from bad to worse as Marky Delgado briefly exited the game. Mark Bloom also left the game in the second half. Delgado has been relied upon more with Michael Bradley and Will Johnson out, and they can’t afford to lose any more midfielders for a long time. If Tim Bezbatchenko is planning on making a move, it has to come sooner rather than later.

Moments after that, Justin Meram had the best chance of the half, but Alex Bono extended to make a massive save.

After a weather delay, the two teams were set to get started again. Tsubasa Endoh checked in to start the second half, and made his mark immediately when he laid an excellent ball into Jonathan Osorio, but his shot went just wide of the goal:

"Seriously, THAT close for @torontofc. #CLBvTOR https://t.co/oyn4RyzgbJ— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 14, 2016"

Having scored all four of the club’s goals in their three games, goalscoring needed to come from someone besides Ola Kamara. Luckily, they finally did get one as Harrison Afful broke the deadlock for Columbus in the 54th minute. That goal was good for his first of the season.

"Not an Afful shot, at all.1-0 @ColumbusCrewSC. #CLBvTOR https://t.co/YCos69JPR7— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 14, 2016"

But it wouldn’t take long for TFC to answer. After they made all three of their substitutions, Benoit Cheyrou continued his midseason resurgence when he started a counter-attack before collecting a hockey assist on Jordan Hamilton’s goal. That’s a sight that Reds fans will be seeing for a long time:

"A @torontoFC homegrown special.Chapman to Hamilton, 1-1. #CLBvTOR https://t.co/rkrDoocTlQ— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 14, 2016"

After that goal, Toronto played conservative the rest of the way. They certainly had their moments to take the lead, but they spent more time behind the ball and slowing down the tempo of the game. However, their best chance came from Osorio:

"Clark puts on the late show. #CLBvTOR https://t.co/20CZGgCl98— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 14, 2016"

With chances like these, one would think that Osorio will be kicking himself for not scoring, but when Columbus started a counter-attack the other way, Mo Babouli did a great job back-tracking and neutralizing the threat.

And with that, Toronto FC’s winless streak stretches to four. Picking up all three points in this game was always going to be hard, and they did well to tie the game moments after falling behind, but a draw was the best outcome they could’ve hoped for in this match. Their next chance to get a win will be against the San Jose Earthquakes where a rested, and focused, Giovinco will feature.