Toronto, ON – Bernardo Anor scored and Andy Gruenebaum posted his second straight shutout, as the Columbus Crew kept Toronto FC winless this season in MLS with a 1-0 victory Saturday at BMO Field.
Toronto goalie Milos Kocic saved a penalty in the first half, but Anor notched the lone goal in the 56th minute and Gruenebaum made three saves.
Columbus (2-1-0) has won two straight since a season-opening loss against the Colorado Rapids. The Crew defeated the Montreal Impact, 2-0, last week.
Toronto FC (0-3-0) lost its third straight to open league play, and has scored just one goal. TFC has played well outside MLS, downing the Los Angeles Galaxy in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League.
TFC tied the first leg of its CONCACAF semifinal series against Santos earlier this week, 1-1, and visits Mexico for the second leg Wednesday.
Danny Koevermans, who will miss the second leg due to card accumulation, had a pair of early chances to put Toronto in front against Columbus, but Gruenebaum saved the first and the Dutchman headed wide on the second.
Toronto gave Columbus a golden chance to end the first half with a lead when a tackle by Ty Harden inside the area on Olman Vargas earned a penalty kick, but Milovan Mirosevic was denied at the left post by Kocic in the 42nd minute.
Columbus overcame the missed opportunity and took advantage of a turnover from Toronto midfielder Julian de Guzman to score the lone goal 11 minutes into the second half.
After de Guzman turned the ball over, Anor played the ball out to Vargas, then received a return pass at the edge of the area, but made a poor first touch to allow Toronto's Logan Emory a chance to clear.
Emory cleared the ball right back to Anor, and the Crew midfielder quickly put the ball into the top-left corner from the middle of the area for his first of the season.
Gruenebaum had little work to do over the last 30-plus minutes as Columbus was able to hold on for the road win. The Crew will try to extend their win streak when they host Red Bull New York on April 7.
After the CONCACAF match in Mexico, Toronto FC will resume league play April 7 at the Montreal Impact.
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