Crew Crush Toronto 4-2 in MLS Thriller Despite Red Card Drama

Columbus Crew 4-2 Toronto FC: MLS Regular Season – Matchday 31

The Columbus Crew stormed to a 4-2 victory over Toronto FC in a Major League Soccer thriller that had everything — early fireworks, a red card, and a late surge that couldn’t mask the visitors’ defensive horror show. Gonzalo Tapia’s 16th-minute opener ignited a first-half barrage from the Crew, who raced into a 3-0 lead by halftime through Malte Amundsen’s brace before Brooks Lennon made it four. Toronto’s Daniel Salloi and Josh Sargent struck late after Sekou Bangoura’s 70th-minute dismissal, but the damage was already done.

Columbus Crew’s First-Half Blitz

The Crew tore Toronto apart in a devastating 32-minute spell. Tapia latched onto Mohamed Farsi’s cutback to slot home the opener, before Amundsen — an unlikely hero from center-back — headed home Dylan Chambost’s delivery five minutes later. Chambost, orchestrating everything, provided another pinpoint assist for Amundsen to nod in his second just after halftime (48′). When Lennon converted Chambost’s third assist on the hour (59′), Toronto’s defense had been filleted four times in just seven shots on target — a brutal exhibition of clinical finishing against their 53% possession that meant nothing.

Toronto FC’s Frustrated Fightback

With the game seemingly over, momentum shifted when Bangoura saw red for a studs-up lunge in minute 70. Suddenly, Toronto found spaces, with Salloi rifling home (69′) and Sargent nodding in Emilio Aristizabal’s cross (81′) to spark belated jitters. Theo Corbeanu tormented ten-man Crew down the right, but their first-half profligacy — wasting nine of 20 shots off-target — left them too big a mountain to climb. That they outshot Columbus (20-10) and barely edged xG (2.36-2.3) will haunt coach John Herdman as much as the defensive shambles.

What This Result Means

For Columbus, this was a statement win despite the late wobble. Amundsen’s unlikely double and Chambost’s trio of assists proved Laurent Courtois’ side can thrive beyond their star names, moving them firmly into playoff contention. Toronto’s sixth consecutive away loss leaves their postseason hopes hanging by a thread — their defensive frailties exposed yet again. Both sides now prepare for Cup finals: Columbus in the Campeones Cup against Tigres, while Toronto face the Canadian Championship decider. One leaves buoyant; the other sinks deeper into crisis.