The Columbus Crew won the Trillium Cup on Wednesday night with a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC. Eddie Gaven opened the scoring in the first half while Federico Higuaín contributed an assist and the game-winning goal before Toronto pulled one back with Luis Silva. This was the second win of the season in the rivalry series giving the Black & Gold its first piece of hardware of 2012.
It only took four minutes for the Crew to get on the board thanks to a terrific run by Higuaín who brought the ball down the left flank and crossed it towards Gaven at the top of the box. The young forward took a right-footed strike that caught a slight deflection off Toronto’s Andrew Wiedeman and went into the back of the net for the fastest Crew goal of the season.
The Black & Gold almost doubled up in the 32nd minute with Emilio Renteria crossing the ball into the box to an oncoming Jairo Arrieta who barely missed the connection with the ball trickling across the goal mouth and out of bounds.
The first clear chance for Toronto FC came in the 34th minute with a shot from distance by Torsten Frings that ended wide to the right of goal.
Toronto came out of the gates in the second half attacking a little bit more and almost got on the board in the 51st minute but Wiedeman’s shot sailed high above the crossbar. Two minutes later Chris Birchall blasted a shot that hit the left post after Renteria fed him a perfect ball.
The second goal of the evening came in the 58th minute when Gaven headed the ball to Arrieta’s feet. The Costa Rican turned around controlling the ball and sent it to Higuaín who shot into the back of the net for the 2-0 lead.
Toronto responded immediately with a shot by Ryan Johnson, deflected by Eric Hassli straight into Andy Gruenebaum’s arms. Then, in the 71st minute Toronto pulled one back as Silva received a ball from Hassli and easily slotted it past Gruenebaum denying the Crew ‘keeper his shutout.
Toronto continued to search for the equalizer but was unable to capitalize on its last clear chance in the 81st minute, a point blank shot by Quincy Amarikwa deftly saved by Gruenebaum that fixed the result at 2-1 giving the Crew the much needed three points.
The Crew is now 9-8-6 on the season and 6-3-2 at home.
Gaven’s goal was his sixth of the season and his second in as many games. The Crew is 23-1-7 when Gaven scores a goal dating back to July 4, 2006.
The Black & Gold continues its home stand on Saturday, August 25, as it hosts the New England Revolution at 7:30 at Crew Stadium in the final Dollar Night of the season.
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