By Canadian Press

Zelarayan on target again as Columbus rallies to defeat understrength Toronto FC 2-1

Mar 12, 2022 | 2:27 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Lucas Zelarayan scored one goal and helped set up the other as the Columbus Crew rallied to defeat an understrength Toronto FC side 2-1 in MLS play Saturday.

Goals by Zelarayan in the 56th minute and Derek Etienne Jr. in the 65th negated a 14th-minute strike by Spanish forward Jesus Jimenez with Columbus (2-0-1) coming on strong in the second half to overcome a bright start by Toronto (0-2-1).

The margin of victory could have been larger had substitutes Gyasi Zardes, in the 70th minute, and Luis Diaz, in the 80th, not misfired on excellent scoring chances.

It was a fast-paced, end-to-end game on a chilly afternoon at Lower.com Feld that saw snowflakes falling at times.

Jimenez’s early goal, his second in as many games, gave Toronto its first lead of the young season as Columbus failed to deal with a Luca Petrasso corner. Jonathan Osorio found Alejandro Pozuelo on the left edge of the penalty box and the Spaniard’s cross found an unmarked Jimenez, who headed it home from in front of goal.

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Toronto ‘keeper Alex Bono made a magnificent reflex save in the 54th minute to deny a Jonathan Mensah header off a Columbus corner.

But two minutes later, Zelarayan beat Bono with a low shot from just outside the penalty box for his fourth goal in three games. And Columbus began to take control.

The Argentine star midfielder played provider in the 65th minute with a free kick that Mensah headed back across goal, where an unmarked Etienne fired a shot that pinged off a defender and past Bono. Toronto may well feel hard done by the foul call against Jayden Nelson on Pedro Santos that provided the set-piece opportunity.

Zelarayan has scored in his last six matches dating back to Oct. 27, a stretch that has produced eight goals, including three game-winners, as well as three assists.

With star centre back Carlos Salcedo suspended and fullback Jacob Shaffelburg sidelined by a leg injury, Toronto switched to a back three.

Chris Mavinga, who started the season opener alongside Salcedo, was unavailable after taking a knock to the knee in training. Fellow centre back Shane O’Neill, who started last week, was also dealing with a knock but made it on a seven-man bench that included two goalkeepers.

In contrast, Columbus fielded the same starting 11 for the third straight game.

Toronto coach Bob Bradley dropped captain Michael Bradley, his son, into the backline alongside Lukas MacNaughton and Kadin Chung, who were making their first TFC starts. The two Canadian Premier League alumni had fine games.

The Toronto starting 11 featured seven Canadians with Noble Okello, making his first start of the season, slotting into the midfield.

Despite the makeshift lineup, Toronto looked sharp early and moved the ball around well with Columbus ‘keeper Eloy Room called into action in the sixth minute to corral a header from Okello. 

Zelarayan came close with a free kick in the 10th minute after he was taken down by Bradley just outside the penalty box.

TFC’s injury woes continued when distraught fullback Jahkeele Marshal-Rutty limped off in the 12th minute.

Bono stopped Miguel Berry’s angled shot in the 25th minute. Two minutes later, Room stopped Petrasso from in-close after the Columbus defence was carved open.

It was Chung to the rescue in the 28th minute, with a well-timed tackle on Yaw Yeboah to deny a Columbus counter-attack.

A Columbus goal by Etienne was called back due to offside in the 31st minute of an end-to-end half. Bono denied Yeboah five minutes later after the Ghanaian international ghosted into the penalty box.

Bono was able to haul in a close-range Etienne header in the 41st minute after Zelarayan beat Bradley down the left flank and floated a cross to the far post.

A clash of heads late in the half as MacNaughton went for a high ball left the Toronto defender with a sizable mouse under his eye. 

Room went down low to stop a shot from substitute Ifunanyachi Achara in the 49th minute.

Teenager midfielder Kosi Thompson made his TFC debut, coming off the bench in the 82nd minute along with striker Jordan Perruzza, who made his first appearance of the season.

Toronto was coming off a 4-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls in its home opener. TFC kicked off the season with a 1-1 tie at FC Dallas.

Columbus opened with a 4-0 win over visiting Vancouver before settling for a 3-3 tie in San Jose with the Earthquakes scoring goals in the 84th and 96th minute to earn a point.

The seven goals in two games represented 15 per cent of the Crew’s 2021 total (46).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2022

The Canadian Press