COLUMBUS CREW SC vs TORONTO FC
MAPFRE STADIUM, Columbus, Ohio
March 14, 2015 (WEEK 2, MLS Game #15)
7:30 p.m. ET (TWC-OH; TSN2)
The battle for the Trillium Cup is renewed as Columbus Crew SC make their home bow in 2015, taking on Toronto FC on Saturday evening at Mapfre Stadium. Crew SC started off the new season with a loss on the road, falling 1-0 at the Houston Dynamo last Saturday. Toronto FC kicked off their long road swing to begin the campaign in fine fashion, storming back for a 3-1 win against Canadian rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place.
• Jozy Altidore scored his first goals in MLS since May 25, 2008, netting twice as Toronto FC opened their season with a 3-1 win against Canadian rivals Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place.
• Crew SC opened their new season with a 1-0 loss at the Houston Dynamo, the first time since 2012 they’ve lost their season opener. The Crew had opened the last two seasons with 3-0 victories (last year vs. D.C. United, the year before vs. Chivas USA).
• Toronto FC won all three meetings between the clubs last year, the first time in the eight-year history of the series they had swept the season series. It was just the second time TFC claimed the Trillium Cup, the supporters-sponsored award given to the winner of the season series.
• TFC won two matches in Columbus last year, their first at Mapfre Stadium since 2011, and just their second and third all-time in Ohio. Toronto FC have won their last two home meetings with the Crew, their first-ever in the series after three losses and five draws over the first six-plus seasons.
REFEREE: David Gantar. AR1 (bench): James Conlee; AR2 (opposite): Danny Thornberry; 4th: Sorin Stoica
MLS Career: 35 games; FC/gm: 25.7; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 11; pens: 7
SUSPENDED: CLB: Tony Tchani (through March 15)
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (22 meetings): Crew 10 wins, 34 goals … Toronto FC 5 wins, 27 goals … Ties 7
AT COLUMBUS (12 meetings): Crew 7 wins, 22 goals … Toronto FC 3 wins, 16 goals … Ties 2
RETURN MATCHES: 7/25: Columbus Crew SC vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. ET; 10/17: Toronto FC vs. Columbus Crew SC, 2 p.m. ET
LAST YEAR (MLS):
4/5: CLB 0, TOR 2 (Bradley 11; Nakajima-Farran 85)
5/31: TOR 3, CLB 2 (Defoe 21, 81; Henry 92+ – Meram 18; Viana 65)
8/9: CLB 2, TOR 3 (Higuain 47+; Meram 81 – Gilberto 43; Osorio 59; Moore 84)
• Toronto FC won all three meetings between the clubs last year, the first time in the eight-year history of the series they had swept the season series. It was just the second time TFC claimed the Trillium Cup, the supporters-sponsored award given to the winner of the season series.
• TFC won two matches in Columbus last year, their first at Mapfre Stadium since 2011, and just their second and third all-time in Ohio.
• Toronto FC have won their last two home meetings with the Crew, their first ever in the series, after three losses and five draws over the first six-plus seasons.
• Coaches record: Greg Vanney vs. CLB: first game … Gregg Berhalter vs. TOR: P3 W0 L3 D0
CHECK OUT THE INJURY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
Toronto Storylines: Battle for East hard to predict
TFC Notes: Focus shifts to Columbus
Despite loss at Houston, Crew SC has positives to build on ahead of Toronto
