The Crew beat Toronto, 2-1, in the last meeting between the sides in May 2021, just their fifth win in the last 21 meetings with Toronto (D6 L10, including playoffs) dating back to 2014. Columbus hasn’t recorded consecutive wins over the Reds since a four-match winning streak in 2012-13.
Columbus conceded in the 84th and 96th minutes to end up drawing with San Jose, 3-3, on Saturday. It was the first time Columbus failed to win a match in which they led by two goals in the 80th minute or later since a 2-2 draw from 2-0 up against Chicago in April 2009.
Toronto is winless in eight straight matches (D4 L4) after a 4-1 defeat to the Red Bulls on Saturday. All four New York goals were scored in the first half, the first time Toronto has allowed four goals in the first half of a match in the club’s MLS history.
Lucas Zelarayán scored two goals, both from outside the box, against San Jose on Saturday. Zelarayán has scored 13 goals from outside the box since joining MLS in 2020, more than twice as many as any other player in regular season play in that time.
Toronto FC has averaged 61.6 percent possession over its first two matches, the only MLS team that has held over 60 percent of the ball in the opening two weekends. The Reds held at least 60 percent of the ball only three times in 34 matches in the 2021 campaign.
