Photo by Aaron Doster/USA Today Sports
By RYAN TOLMICH
Up a trio of goals just minutes into the second half, the Columbus Crew looked set to cruise to a statement victory over Toronto FC. Unfortunately for those at MAPFRE Stadium, it was TFC that made the second-half statement.
Down 3-0 early in the second half, Toronto FC earned a 3-3 draw Saturday with three second-half goals, the last of which was an 89th minute leveler from Jozy Altidore.
Following finishes from Sebastian Giovinco and Collen Warner just five minutes apart, TFC got their third goal fom Altidore, who converted from the penalty spot just moments before the final whistle.
Clattered by Crew defender Waylon Francis, Altidore drew his own spot kick before stepping up to take the shot himself. Slamming his shot into the left side of the goal, Altidore’s finish sealed a miracle TFC comeback, one that looked near impossible given the events of the opening 47 minutes.
The Crew barrage began 18 minutes into the game through league-leading goalscorer Kei Kamara, whose 15th goal of the season came via a broken set piece that featured a headed assist from Federico Higuain.
In the 36th, it was Tony Tchani, who finished off a mistouched Ethan Finlay assist, one that helped bolster the MLS All-Star’s season total to 12. Finlay then added a goal of his own in the 47th with a finish that looked to all but lock up the three points.
It didn’t.
Just three minutes after Finlay’s finish, Giovinco kickstarted TFC’s rally, rifling home a thunderous volley from close range on a pass from Warner. Five minutes later, it was Warner’s turn, slamming home a shot on a cross in from Daniel Lovitz.
Those goals paved the way for Altidore’s equalizer, earning TFC a miracle point away from home.
With the point now in the team’s back pocket, TFC returns to action Aug. 1 with a trip to visit the New England Revolution, while the Crew travel south to take on Orlando City the same day.
Sending Altidore home was another one of Klinsmann’s many fateful decisions in the Gold Cup. It’s true Altidore looked slow in the group stage, but Klinsmann initially said he was healthy and would play into the tournament. Maybe form was bad and maybe it was the correct decision, but this is the second time Klinsmann left a star player at home in a tournament.
i think the better solution would have been to call him in after the group stage.
People are talking out of both sides of their mouths. Many of the same people who are saying that Jozy should have been in the group are the same ones who were complaining about how badly he was playing, how he should not be there, how the USMNT should move on from Jozy to Zardes and Johansson (both of which showed poorly in the USMNT team defeats). In fact, many asking for Bobby Wood and Jordan Morris were slamming him for choosing him.
Also could have used penalty scoring ability.
The national team could’ve used Jozy’s diving skills against Panama
So it takes a PK for Jozy to get a goal. He should be embarassed
so earning the PK gets no credit? and if people can hate on him for having a PK saved then surely he must deserve SOME credit for winning and scoring a PK…. silly hypocrites…
Why? So he could dive? Blatant dive in the penalty box twice in the game. Ref fell for the second.
sure it was perhaps slightly exaggerated but he was pushed in the back while trying to move for the ball, thats a foul; he just made sure to sell it.
JOZEE SHOUJLD HAVE PLAYED AT THE CONCACEF GOLD CUP
I hate those, make no sense when the player clearly couldn’t have even gotten to the ball.
that was meant in response to Sb below
I think he should have been called in after the group stage rather than from the start.
is it just me or is this guy not funny like at all
there are many fans of FRANK on this site. perhaps there are non-fans as well, but some do find him funny. I guess you just have to get the humor…