Toronto FC suffers opening-day loss to resilient Columbus
Toronto FC began opening day by showing off its trio of trophies, but finished Saturday's afternoon's affair as the losers in a 2-0 scoreline, stunned by a resilient Columbus Crew SC side that found goals on either end of the half-time whistle to take three points home from BMO Field.
Federico Higuain opened the season's scoring one minute from the interval, with new striker Gyasi Zardes then scoring his first goal for Columbus just one minute after the second-stanza kickoff. Chances by Sebastian Giovinco and Ager Aketxe promised to provide drama, but only produced rattling bars as the Reds rued their luck over 90 minutes.
It's the first time Toronto FC has ever opened a season at BMO Field, and the first time Columbus has defeated the Reds in this venue since October 2015 - another 2-0 loss in which Higuain found the back of the net.
Columbus will celebrate a victory on opening day with a mind to the trouble that may befall the franchise in the coming months, as team owner Anthony Precourt ponders moving his club to Austin, Texas.
But for Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney, there's no time to reflect on this loss. Mexican giant Tigres UANL of Monterrey pays a visit in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal bout Wednesday.
Of particular concern is the status of Victor Vazquez, who trotted off with injury in the second half Saturday.