Game thread: Crew SC vs. Toronto FC

Columbus Crew SC come back home after a two-game road swing where the Black & Gold picked up four of six points, running the team’s record to 7-3-4 on the year. Columbus faces the struggling defending MLS Cup champions, Toronto FC on Saturday evening.

Crew SC’s points streak stretches to seven games, going 4-3-0 over that span, including two 0-0 draws while playing with 10 men for more than a half on the road. The team is being propelled to near the top of the MLS standings by the best defense in the league, a unit that has only allowed 10 goals all year.

Toronto has been bitten hard by the injury bug and has played makeshift lineups over the first third of the season. It’s taken a toll on the team’s record. The champs have gone 2-3-0 over their last five and are ninth in the Eastern Conference, nine points out of the last playoff spot.

Live updates:

FT: Crew SC TFC 3

90’ Higuain converts from the spot. 3-3 and Crew SC have come all the way back to tie!

88’ Zardes goes one on one with Bradley in the box and beats him and is tripped. Higuain will have the chance to tie this match...

81’ A free kick sent into the Crew SC penalty area is collected by Bradley. The ball falls right to Crognale who tucks it home. Game on!

77’ Clark with a bike effort that goes just wide! Crew SC are finally creating chances.

74’ Afful gets free in the box and fires a shot off the crossbar! He’s so unlucky this year!

67’ Zardes heads home the Higuain corner, and there’s life for #CrewSC. 3-1

65’ Artur fires a shot for 35 yards that curls wide. Not a bad attempt.

63’ Crew SC substitutions: Grella for Eduardo Sosa, Crognale for Abubakar and Hansen out for Argudo. It’s the debut for Sosa.

62’ Hansen goes alone from a tight angle and it’s a chest save for Bono.

56’ Yellow card to Williams for pulling Giovinco and is given a yellow. Dangerous free kick for TFC.

54’ A TFC giveaway at the back leads to Crew SC’s first shot on goal of the night from Clark. But it’s right to Bono.

46’ CrewSC kickoff to begin the second half. Trail Toronto 2-0 at home.

HT: TFC 2 Crew SC 0

28’ Ricketts, the #CrewSC killer, strikes again. 2-0 #TFC as he finishes another low cross in the penalty area.

37’ Giovinco curls a shot from outside the box. It hits the post to prevent at 2-0 #TFC lead.

33’ Higuain tries a long-range Pipa chip but it’s off target.

21’ Hernandez pulls down Higuain on the break and receives a yellow card.

20’ Hernandez puts a shot on his own goal off a Crew SC corner, but Bono makes the save.

17’ Vazquez puts the penalty away. 1-0 TFC.

16’ Penalty kick for #TFC. Artur tripped Teller. Shutout streak in jeopardy here.

11’ Hansen takes a pass from Clark at the top of the box and fires a rocket shot, but it’s high of the mark.

8’ Yellow card to Osorio after a foul on Hansen.

4’ Low cross comes in from TFC. Giovinco reaches for it and directs it wide.

2’ Yellow card to Artur. Looks like he caught the TFC player with an elbow.

1’ We’re underway from MAPFRE Stadium

Previews:

Ralph Schudel checks in with what Toronto has been doing since Crew SC last saw them in the season opener. The team told Pat Murphy that there’s a little extra fire playing Toronto, the team who ended their 2017 playoff run. The staff thinks this may be where Columbus’ streaks (shutout and points) end.

Official Lineups:

Injuries & Suspensions:

Crew SC: Wil Trapp and Zack Steffen are with the U.S. Men’s National Team. Cristian Martinez will be serving the first game of his two-game suspension for slapping Seth Sinovic last week. Pedro Santos and Jonathan Mensah are racing to get fit for the game, but have not been full participants in training. Head coach Gregg Berhalter usually holds out players who aren’t ready in the days leading up to the game, so they are both likely out. Federico Higuain’s suspension was overturned and he’ll be available.

Toronto FC: The injury list is long for the visitors. Ager Aketxe is out with a hip flexor injury. Jozy Altidore is still recovering from foot surgery earlier this year. Defender Drew Moor is hampered by a quadricep strain. Chris Mavinga’s hamstring strain will keep him out. Ashtone Morgan is recovering from a hamstring strain and is doubtful for the game. Justin Morrow may have recovered from a strained calf to play tonight..

How to watch:

Date: Saturday, June 2, 2018, 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: MAPFRE Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)

TV: BCSN2, CW-Columbus, Spectrum Sports

Radio: English: CD102.5 FM / ColumbusCrewSC.com Spanish: ColumbusCrewSC.com

Stream: ESPN+