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 The Canadian side had defender Justin Morrow sent off a minute
before half-time when referee David Gantar ruled that the full-back
had brought down Ethan Finley on the edge of the area.
Video replays suggested, however, that Morrow had won the ball with
his sliding tackle and Toronto players furiously protested the
decision but to no avail.
Columbus, playing intelligent, sharp, passing soccer through
midfield, took full advantage of having an extra man and grabbed the
lead in the 57th minute when Finlay’s cross was headed in by Justin
Meram.
Four minutes later Kei Kamara doubled the home side’s advantage, the
Sierra Leone forward getting on the end of Waylon Francis's cross to
slot home from close range.
Toronto, who have yet to make the playoffs since joining the league
in 2007, invested heavily in the off-season, bringing in Sebastian
Giovinco from Juventus and Jozy Altidore from Sunderland.
They also brought in midfielder Michael Bradley from AS Roma midway
through last season. The trio are among the biggest earners in MLS
but were unable to provide much of a threat to a solid Columbus
defense well-marshalled by Emanuel Pogatetz.
While the red card clearly changed the game, Toronto skipper Bradley
said he was more disappointed by the way the team failed to deliver
their best.
"I still felt that we were going to be able to control things in a
smart way and still find our chances to play and get opportunities
of our own," he said.
"I just don’t think in the decisive moments in the second half, at
both ends, that we were good enough."
In other MLS games, the Seattle Sounders, fancied by many as
favorites for the title this year, suffered a shock 3-2 home defeat
to San Jose Earthquakes, who also played for a long spell with a man
down.
[to top of second column] |
Clint Dempsey opened the scoring for Seattle in the first minute
before Chris Wondolowski scored twice for San Jose, who then had
Victor Bernardez sent off in the 52nd minute.
San Jose striker Innocent Emeghara made it 3-1 in the 70th minute
and despite an 84th minute goal from Seattle's Obafemi Martins, the
Earthquakes held on for the three points.
Blas Perez scored twice for FC Dallas in their 3-1 victory over 2013
MLS champions Sporting Kansas City, while an 86th minute penalty
from Alvaro Saborio gave Real Salt Lake a 3-3 draw at home to the
Philadelphia Union.
Fernando Aristeguieta scored twice for the visitors. Octavio
Rivero’s 86th-minute strike gave the Vancouver Whitecaps a 1-0 win
at the Chicago Fire.
On Sunday, New York City FC host New England Revolution while
defending champions LA Galaxy travel to face the Portland Timbers.
(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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reserved.]
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