Michael Bradley played an instrumental part in Toronto FC’s 2-0 win over Columbus SC. Bradley scored the first goal of the game for Toronto and played a big part in Altidore’s goal. Toronto always looked like the more dangerous team against Columbus, with more dangerous scoring chances in both halves.
Michael Bradley shines in big 2-0 win over Columbus SC
Three Keys to the Game
Michael Bradley shines against Toronto FC
Bradley played extremely well passing and scoring for his team in a big 2-0 win over Columbus.
13' #TFCLive scores! Captain Michael Bradley opens the scoring with a shot at close range. #TORvCLB | 1-0 | #MLSpic.twitter.com/gWVPb89mJZ
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) May 12, 2021
Bradley was the best player for both teams. He started off straight away in the 13-minute. Hist first shot was blocked, but Marky Delgado kept the ball alive. As a result, Bradley got a second shot off, and this time it was in the back of the net.
In the 26-minute, Bradley made a terrific pass to Nick DeLeon whose strike hit the post. Yeferson Soteldo then got the rebound, but his shot was blocked by Saad Abdul-Salaam. To be fair to Columbus, it was probably the best defensive play of the game. If the shot was not blocked, Soteldo would have scored his first MLS goal.
Then in the 63-minute, Bradley made a terrific cross-pass to Altidore, but Altidore fumbled the ball, and it remained a one-goal lead for TFC.
87' Jozy Altidore scores #TFCLive's second goal! Omar Gonzalez and Michael Bradley played a big part in Altidore's goal.#TORvCLB | 2-0 | #MLS pic.twitter.com/YHh0nY0czg
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) May 13, 2021
Altidore would get his redemption in the 87-minute though. His header from very close range gave TFC the two-goal lead. Credit to Altidore for getting himself in a good position to score the goal. There should also be credit given to Michael Bradley and Omar Gonzalez who orchestrated the goal scored by Altidore.
Toronto FC had the better chances to score
When looking at the statistics, Toronto had 11 shots and four on goal while Columbus had 10 shots and three on goal. TFC also had 51.6 percent of the possession. These statistics look fairly even, but the chances TFC created were off higher quality than Columbus. In the 36-minute, Nick DeLeon shot from the centre of the box was missed.
75' #TFCLive's Jozy Altidore hits the post with a wonderful stike! There is still only one goal separating both teams. #TORvCLB | 1-0 | #MLS pic.twitter.com/se6TuDG2ip
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) May 13, 2021
In the 75-minute, Altidore beat the Columbus goalkeeper Eloy Room but hit the crossbar. It was a terrific shot by Altidore and an indication of things to come.
Columbus SC did not convert their chances
Columbus had 10 shots but only three on target. This included Alexandru Irinel Matan’s shot in the 11-minute.
14' #TFCLive's goalkeeper Alex Bono makes a terrific save from close range. #TORvCLB | 1-0 | #MLS
— Raheem (@bashirra) May 12, 2021
Their best chance probably came in the 16-minute (correction from the Tweet above which says the 14-minute) when Gyasi Zardes shot was stopped by Alex Bono. It was a fantastic stop by Bono. However, TSN’s Steven Caldwell stated if Zardes did not hesitate, it would have given him a better chance to score.
In the 23-minute, Vito Wormgoor header from the right side of the box was close but off-target. Then Columbus’s Luis Diaz shot from long range was saved by goalkeeper Bono in the 31-minute. Diaz also missed the net in the 29-minute.
Columbus would get the first three shots in the second half. In the 58-minute, Zardes’s shot was saved in the bottom left corner. In the same minute, Diaz would get another shot, but it would be off-target. Jonathan Mensah could have deflected Diaz’s shot to tie the game, but was unable to make contact with the ball.
This might have been their best chance to score in the second half. Their last chance came in the 74-minute, when Lucas Zelarayán shot from outside the box was off-target.
Other Factors
26' Terrific defence by #Crew96's Saad Abdul-Salaam! He blocked Yeferson Soteldo's shot, which would have been a second goal for #TFCLive. #TORvCLB | 1-0 | #MLSpic.twitter.com/pMBMxwxHdS
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) May 12, 2021
As mentioned before, Abdul-Salaam made a great defensive stop against Soteldo. If that goal was scored. Columbus would be in a bad position heading into the second half. Bono also played well, making three saves against Columbus. The most notable save was in the 16-minute, when he saved a Zardes’s shot from close range.
Toronto FC-Columbus Crew SC Game Overview
Game is Over:@TorontoFC 2@ColumbusCrew 0
As head coach of #TFCLive, Chris Armas gets his first win in MLS against Trillium Cup rivals #Crew96.
— Raheem (@bashirra) May 13, 2021
Congrats to Chris Armas, who as a Toronto FC head coach got his first MLS win. It was also the first MLS win in 2021 for Toronto FC. After only getting one point in the first three games including losing to the New York Red Bulls last Saturday 2-0, TFC have finally found some momentum. Also, Kemar Lawrence made his first appearance with Toronto FC in the second half.
More importantly, TFC now have a 2-0 advantage over Columbus after winning the first game of the Trillium Cup rivalry game on Wednesday. The winner of the Trillium Cup will be determined on May 29 at the Historic Crew Stadium.
It will be a short turnaround though for Toronto as they face their rivals New York City FC team next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium. The game can be watched nationally in Canada on CTV and TSN4. This is while New York City fans can watch the game on YES. They will then face Orlando City SC on Saturday, May. 22 at Exploria Stadium.
This is while Columbus will play at Gillette Stadium at 6:00 p.m. ET against the New England Revolution on Sunday. The game can be watched on MLS Live on DAZN. They will then play against NYCFC on May 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Red Bull Arena.
