Major League Soccer Regular Season - 5

Toronto FC 2 - 1 FT Columbus Crew

BMO Field

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
55
FT
Sat, Mar 21
Toronto FC
2-1
Columbus Crew
⚡ Intensity 38
⚖️ Balance 78
🏆 Stakes 44
🎲 Upset 10
Zimmerman seals dramatic first-leg comeback win.

BMO Field Erupts as Toronto Mounts Late Comeback

Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 55/100. An early defensive lapse couldn't break the hosts, who rallied fiercely for a vital 2-1 first-leg advantage in front of a raucous home crowd.

The Opening Act

The Stakes were palpable from the opening whistle of this two-legged showdown, but Toronto FC found themselves instantly on the back foot. The visitors silenced BMO Field in the fourth minute when W. Abou Ali clinically finished an early opportunity. Columbus Crew utilized that momentum to dictate the early tempo, as they controlled possession with a fluid 56 percent share. The away side looked perfectly comfortable absorbing pressure and springing forward, executing their tactical game plan to frustrate the Canadian outfit. Despite falling behind so early, the home team refused to capitulate. They knew they could ill afford to travel to Ohio in October facing a multi-goal deficit. The early stages tested their psychological resilience, but they slowly began to navigate the spaces between the lines to regain a foothold.

The Pivot

Returning from the locker room, the home side dramatically shifted the Intensity of the contest. The turning point arrived in the 56th minute when J. Cifuentes finally breached the resolute Columbus defense, burying a deserved equalizer that completely altered the stadium's atmosphere. From that moment forward, the field tilted entirely in one direction. Toronto generated a relentless wave of attacking phases, ultimately forcing 10 corner kicks as they peppered the penalty area. The sheer volume of set pieces created a suffocating environment for the visitors. Every time Columbus tried to clear their lines, a red shirt was there to recycle possession and restart the siege, keeping the away side pinned deep in their own territory.

Resolution

The ultimate Balance of the series shifted in the 83rd minute thanks to a masterstroke. Substitute D. Mihailovic entered the fray and instantly provided the necessary creative spark, delivering a pinpoint assist for the surging W. Zimmerman to home the decisive 2-1 winner. Even with Malte Amundsen putting in a heroic, standout shift on the backline for Columbus, the visitors could not hold off the late surge. The final whistle confirmed a crucial first-leg victory for Toronto. Now, the scene shifts to the return leg on October 24, where Columbus will look to overturn this narrow deficit on their home turf. This hard-fought triumph gives the hosts exactly the lifeline they needed.

Key Questions

How did Toronto FC complete the comeback from behind?

After falling behind early, José Cifuentes equalized in the 56th minute before Djordje Mihailovic assisted Walker Zimmerman for the decisive 83rd-minute winner at BMO Field.

How did substitute Walker Zimmerman change the game?

While starting the match, Walker Zimmerman delivered the ultimate decisive blow. He rose to the occasion in the 83rd minute, scoring the vital winning goal.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
44%
56%
Toronto FC 44%
Columbus Crew 56%
Shots
12
8
Toronto FC 12
Columbus Crew 8
Shots on Target
7
4
Toronto FC 7
Columbus Crew 4
Expected Goals (xG)
0.91
0.68
Toronto FC 0.91
Columbus Crew 0.68
Passes
371
477
Toronto FC 371
Columbus Crew 477
Pass Accuracy
77%
83%
Toronto FC 77%
Columbus Crew 83%
Corners
10
7
Toronto FC 10
Columbus Crew 7
Fouls
9
20
Toronto FC 9
Columbus Crew 20
Yellow Cards
1
3
Toronto FC 1
Columbus Crew 3
Red Cards
0
0
Toronto FC 0
Columbus Crew 0

Match Events

W. Abou Ali 4'
Marcelo Herrera 🟨 7'
Dylan Chambost 🟨 45'
HT
46' 🔄 J. Sargent D. Mihailovic
56' J. Cifuentes
D. Chambost R. Camacho 🔄 66'
T. Habroune J. Thiare 🔄 66'
75' 🔄 D. Kerr E. Aristizabal
75' 🔄 J. Cifuentes M. Henry
M. Arfsten H. Picard 🔄 81'
83' W. Zimmerman (D. Mihailovic)
87' 🟨 Walker Zimmerman
A. Gomes N. Akhundzade 🔄 88'
D. Rossi S. Bangoura 🔄 88'
90'+2 🔄 A. Coello Z. Monlouis
Jamal Thiaré 🟨 90'+8
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Toronto FC

Goalkeepers
L. Gavran
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
1
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
R. Laryea
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
5
Fouls Won
5
Fouls Won
10
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
W. Zimmerman
CLOSER
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
B. Kuscevic
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
D. Kerr
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
9
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
A. Coello
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
J. Osorio
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Edwards
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Forwards
J. Cifuentes
SNIPER
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
D. Salloi
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
J. Sargent
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
BENCH
W. Yarbrough
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
K. Franklin
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Z. Monlouis
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Mihailovic
SUPER SUB
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
45
Minutes
7
Rating
K. Thompson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Cimermancic
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Henry
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Etienne
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
E. Aristizabal
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Columbus Crew

Goalkeepers
P. Schulte
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
A. Herrera
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Moreira
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Zawadzki
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Amundsen
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
7
Tackles
69%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
D. Rossi
NPC
NPC
88
Minutes
88
Minutes
21%
Pass Acc
6.9
Rating
D. Chambost
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
A. Gomes
NPC
NPC
88
Minutes
88
Minutes
35%
Pass Acc
6.2
Rating
M. Arfsten
PROVIDER
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.9
Rating
Forwards
T. Habroune
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
W. Abou Ali
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
BENCH
N. Hagen
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
R. Camacho
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Cheberko
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Gazdag
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Sejdic
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Bangoura
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Picard
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Akhundzade
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Thiare
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
09/20/2025 Columbus Crew 1 - 1 Toronto FC Major League Soccer Lower.com Field
08/16/2025 Toronto FC 1 - 1 Columbus Crew Major League Soccer BMO Field
09/18/2024 Toronto FC 0 - 2 Columbus Crew Major League Soccer BMO Field
07/06/2024 Columbus Crew 4 - 0 Toronto FC Major League Soccer Lower.com Field
02/10/2024 Toronto FC 2 - 4 Columbus Crew Friendlies Clubs TBC
08/26/2023 Columbus Crew 2 - 0 Toronto FC Major League Soccer Lower.com Field
03/12/2023 Toronto FC 1 - 1 Columbus Crew Major League Soccer BMO Field
06/29/2022 Toronto FC 1 - 2 Columbus Crew Major League Soccer BMO Field
09/20/2025
Major League Soccer Lower.com Field
08/16/2025
Major League Soccer BMO Field
09/18/2024
Major League Soccer BMO Field
07/06/2024
Major League Soccer Lower.com Field
02/10/2024
Friendlies Clubs TBC
08/26/2023
Major League Soccer Lower.com Field
03/12/2023
Major League Soccer BMO Field
06/29/2022
Major League Soccer BMO Field
Toronto FC Win
Columbus Crew Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 Inter Miami 4 10 9 5 +4 WNew York City FC 2 - 3 Inter Miami (22-03-2026)DCharlotte 0 - 0 Inter Miami (14-03-2026)WDC United 1 - 2 Inter Miami (07-03-2026)WOrlando City SC 2 - 4 Inter Miami (02-03-2026)
2 Nashville SC 3 9 10 1 +9 WNashville SC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (21-03-2026)WColumbus Crew 0 - 1 Nashville SC (14-03-2026)WNashville SC 4 - 1 New England Revolution (22-02-2026)
3 Chicago Fire 4 7 6 3 +3 WPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 Chicago Fire (21-03-2026)LChicago Fire 1 - 2 DC United (15-03-2026)DColumbus Crew 0 - 0 Chicago Fire (08-03-2026)WChicago Fire 3 - 0 CF Montreal (28-02-2026)
4 Toronto FC 3 7 4 2 +2 WToronto FC 2 - 1 Columbus Crew (21-03-2026)DToronto FC 1 - 1 New York Red Bulls (14-03-2026)WFC Cincinnati 0 - 1 Toronto FC (08-03-2026)
5 DC United 4 7 4 3 +1 DAtlanta United FC 0 - 0 DC United (21-03-2026)WChicago Fire 1 - 2 DC United (15-03-2026)LDC United 1 - 2 Inter Miami (07-03-2026)WDC United 1 - 0 Philadelphia Union (22-02-2026)
6 New York Red Bulls 5 7 5 11 -6 LCharlotte 6 - 1 New York Red Bulls (21-03-2026)DToronto FC 1 - 1 New York Red Bulls (14-03-2026)LNew York Red Bulls 0 - 3 CF Montreal (08-03-2026)WNew York Red Bulls 1 - 0 New England Revolution (28-02-2026)WOrlando City SC 1 - 2 New York Red Bulls (22-02-2026)
7 New York City FC 3 6 9 4 +5 LNew York City FC 2 - 3 Inter Miami (22-03-2026)WNew York City FC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (07-03-2026)WPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 New York City FC (01-03-2026)
8 FC Cincinnati 4 6 7 10 -3 WFC Cincinnati 4 - 3 CF Montreal (22-03-2026)LNew England Revolution 6 - 1 FC Cincinnati (15-03-2026)LFC Cincinnati 0 - 1 Toronto FC (08-03-2026)WFC Cincinnati 2 - 0 Atlanta United FC (21-02-2026)
9 Charlotte 2 4 6 1 +5 WCharlotte 6 - 1 New York Red Bulls (21-03-2026)DCharlotte 0 - 0 Inter Miami (14-03-2026)
10 Atlanta United FC 3 4 3 3 0 DAtlanta United FC 0 - 0 DC United (21-03-2026)WAtlanta United FC 3 - 1 Philadelphia Union (14-03-2026)LFC Cincinnati 2 - 0 Atlanta United FC (21-02-2026)
11 New England Revolution 3 3 7 6 +1 WNew England Revolution 6 - 1 FC Cincinnati (15-03-2026)LNew York Red Bulls 1 - 0 New England Revolution (28-02-2026)LNashville SC 4 - 1 New England Revolution (22-02-2026)
12 CF Montreal 4 3 7 9 -2 LFC Cincinnati 4 - 3 CF Montreal (22-03-2026)LOrlando City SC 2 - 1 CF Montreal (14-03-2026)WNew York Red Bulls 0 - 3 CF Montreal (08-03-2026)LChicago Fire 3 - 0 CF Montreal (28-02-2026)
13 Orlando City SC 5 3 5 17 -12 LNashville SC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (21-03-2026)WOrlando City SC 2 - 1 CF Montreal (14-03-2026)LNew York City FC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (07-03-2026)LOrlando City SC 2 - 4 Inter Miami (02-03-2026)LOrlando City SC 1 - 2 New York Red Bulls (22-02-2026)
14 Columbus Crew 3 1 1 3 -2 LToronto FC 2 - 1 Columbus Crew (21-03-2026)LColumbus Crew 0 - 1 Nashville SC (14-03-2026)DColumbus Crew 0 - 0 Chicago Fire (08-03-2026)
15 Philadelphia Union 4 0 3 8 -5 LPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 Chicago Fire (21-03-2026)LAtlanta United FC 3 - 1 Philadelphia Union (14-03-2026)LPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 New York City FC (01-03-2026)LDC United 1 - 0 Philadelphia Union (22-02-2026)