Crew SC Communications

MATCH INFO:

Venue: MAPFRE Stadium (Columbus, OH)
Referee: Nima Saghafi
Assistants: Corey Rockwell, Kyle Atkins
Fourth Official: Hilario Grajeda
Attendance: 12,319
Weather: 78 degrees and clear

GOALS/ASSISTS

TOR – Jozy Altidore (Victor Vazquez) 21’
CLB – Ola Kamara (Niko Hansen, Niko Hansen) 37’
CLB – Justin Meram (Alex Crognale, Federico Higuain) 44’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

TOR – Michael Bradley (caution) 80’
CLB – Jukka Raitala (caution) 90+2’

LINEUPS

Columbus Crew SC: Zack Steffen; Harrison Afful, Alex Crognale, Nico Naess, Jukka Raitala; Artur, Wil Trapp (C); Niko Hansen (Ethan Finlay 60’), Federico Higuain (Josh Williams 88’), Justin Meram; Ola Kamara
Substitutes not used: Logan Ketterer, Waylon Francis, Hector Jimenez, Mohammed Abu, Kekuta Manneh

Toronto FC: Alexander Bono; Eriq Zavaleta, Nick Hagglund, Justin Morrow; Steven Beitashour, Raheem Edwards (Tosaint Ricketts 82’), Michael Bradley (C), Armando Cooper (Jonathan Osorio 54’), Victor Vazquez (Benoit Cheyrou 86’); Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore.
Substitutes not used: Marco Delgado, Mark Pais, Jay Chapman, Tsubasa Endoh

TEAM NOTES

Midfielder Justin Meram scored the winning goal in tonight’s match and has now recorded a goal or an assist in every home match this season through four home contests. In the last six total home matches dating back to October 1, 2016, Meram has notched five goals and two assists.
Captain Wil Trapp made his 100^th regular-season appearance (97^th start) for the Black & Gold in tonight’s match. With his appearance against Toronto, the midfielder became the first Crew SC Homegrown Player to make 100 regular-season appearances and is one of only 27 players to have made 100 or more regular-season appearances for the club.
Rookies Niko Hansen and Alex Crognale each tallied their first regular-season assists for Crew SC. Hansen made his first start for the club in tonight’s contest and provided the helper on Ola Kamara’s opening goal. Previously, Hansen had made three substitute appearances in home matches against Portland (March 25) and Orlando (April 1) as well as in a road contest at Chicago (April 8). Hansen also scored the winning goal the Black & Gold’s 3-2 home victory over Portland. Tonight, Crognale helped set up Justin Meram’s game-winning goal. To date, Crognale has made five regular-season appearances (four starts) for the Black & Gold.
Forward Ola Kamara tallied his fourth goal of the season and his 20^th goal for Crew SC in 32 appearances (27 starts) by scoring the Black & Gold’s first goal in tonight’s match. The Norwegian has made seven appearances (all starts) this season.
The win against Toronto FC marks the third time that the Black & Gold have defeated an unbeaten team this season, as the Reds sported a record of 1-0-4 coming into tonight’s match. Previously, Crew SC defeated Portland (3-0-0 at the time) 3-2 on March 25 and Orlando (2-0-0 at the time) 2-0 on April 1. Tonight’s victory also marks the club’s third consecutive win at home. Crew SC is undefeated at MAPFRE Stadium this season with a record of 3-0-1. The last time Crew SC went on a three-game winning streak at home was in 2015, when the club won three consecutive matches during a window from June 24 – July 19.
Crew SC is currently undefeated through four matches at MAPFRE Stadium this season and has not lost at home since September 10, 2016 going 5-0-1 in that same span. The last time the club went four or more matches undefeated at home was last season, from April 16 – August 13, with the club posting a 4-0-7 record in that 11-match span.
With the two goals in tonight’s contest, the Black & Gold have now scored in every home match this season. Additionally, Crew SC has now scored in each of its last 15 home matches, dating back to a 1-1 draw against the New York Red Bulls last season (June 25).