Toronto, Canada – The Columbus Crew topped Toronto FC 1-0 in the second match of the day as the reserve teams squared off after the first teams at BMO Field Saturday evening. Crew midfielder Ethan Finlay scored the lone goal for the Black & Gold giving the Crew its first win of the 2012 MLS Reserve League season.
The goal came in the 58th minute as Finlay took advantage of a lapse in the Toronto defense and tapped the ball in to give the Crew the 1-0 advantage. Both teams created several chances and the Crew almost doubled up late in the match with a shot by Justin Meram that was directed towards the upper 90 but TFC Academy goalie Quillan Roberts made a diving save and poked the ball over the crossbar.
The match also saw Dilly Duka return to the field after being sidelined by a hamstring injury in the season opener at Colorado on March 10. Duka was replaced by Meram in the 32nd minute.
The Black & Gold reserve team is now 1-1-0 on the season.
The Crew reserves return to action on Saturday, April 7, as they take the field against the New York Red Bulls immediately after the first teams’ match at Crew Stadium (6 p.m. approximate start).
SATURDAY MARCH 31, 2012- BMO FIELD
SCORING SUMMARY:
CLB- Ethan Finlay 58’
CAUTION SUMMARY:
CLB- Cole Grossman 41’ Caution
CLB- Ethan Finlay 46’ Caution
TOR- Chris Manella 81’ Caution
LINE-UPS:
Columbus Crew – William Hesmer, Aubrey Perry, Korey Veeder, Josh Williams (Aaron Horton 69’), Nemanja Vukovic, Ethan Finlay, Kevan George, Cole Grossman, Tony Tchani, Dilly Duka, (Justin Meram 32’), Aaron Schoenfeld (Rhodes Moore* 75’)
Substitutes not used: Matt Lampson, Blas Iribarren^
- Columbus Crew Academy Player
^- Columbus Crew Guest Player
Toronto FC—Quillan Roberts, Chris Manella, Aaron Maund, Adrian Cann (Sergio Camargo 46’), Tyler Pasher, Oscar Cordon, Junior Burgos, Eric Avila, Omari Morris, Keith Makubuya, Jordan Hamilton
Substitutes Not Used: None
- Toronto FC Academy Player
