The Columbus Crew returned to winning ways on Wednesday night with an impressive 2-0 win at Toronto FC to claim the Trillium Cup in 2024.
Playing a second rivalry match on the road in a week, the Black & Gold showed why they’re the reigning league champs with a collectively sound performance to earn three points for the first time since Aug. 21.
“It was about the collective aspect and the way we were more precise and calm on the ball to play quick,” head coach Wilfried Nancy said. “For me, we did a really good game in terms of composure. That's why we were able to build the game for the first half, and the second half, we were able to adjust and finish the game in a good way. I like the way we prepare and the players built the game, and this is exactly what we wanted to do so this is good.”
Cucho Hernández broke the deadlock 51 minutes into the match with a curling effort from just outside the box. Jacen Russell-Rowe, playing his former club, got in behind Toronto, then held the ball up for his teammate to lash a shot past an outstretched Sean Johnson.
The goal was the Colombian’s 20th across all competitions in 2024 and 14th during league play.
New signing Andrés Herrera scored his first Black & Gold goal later in the 70th minute to finish a clinical Columbus build up. Moving the ball from right-to-left, Max Arfsten collected it on the left flank, then dribbled centrally. From there, one-touch passes freed space for Herrera to slot a shot into the bottom right corner to double the lead.
“For me, getting a first goal is always like a breath of fresh air because in my head, the first goal is always the hardest because you don't really know how it's going to come,” Russell-Rowe said of his teammate. “After that, you're able to gain confidence from it and build off of it. For Andrés, I heard he was saying he felt like he was going to score today so he might have manifested it a little bit. I'm very happy for him to get his first.”
Let’s not forget about the backline, which earned a second-straight clean sheet on the road. Patrick Schulte, who made several fine stops, recorded his 10th shutout of the season, which is a career high. The goalkeeper is now tied for most clean sheets in MLS.
“This is not only the backline because the front line, they do also a good job to avoid certain things,” Nancy said. “Obviously, also the backline do it well. This is the competitive spirit that we have. After that, yes, we can talk about tactics that we are good defensively, but for me, this is this desire to compete all the time that's why they are able to make plays.
“Sometimes we are unbalanced because it could happen, they are able to make a play at the right moment. For me, this is the chemistry of the team and this is the spirit of the team. That's why we are able to be also good defensively.”
With the win, the Crew remain third in the Eastern Conference standings with a chance to jump to second on Saturday night on home soil.
In two days’ time, Columbus hosts Orlando City SC at Lower.com Field in a matchup between sides that met in the Eastern Conference semifinals last autumn.
On Sept. 25, the Crew host Liga MX powerhouse Club América in the Campeones Cup to determine the continent’s ultimate league champion. The Crew are looking to win a second Campeones Cup in three years.
