Higuain leads Columbus over Toronto FC

Columbus, OH – Federico Higuain scored twice as the Columbus Crew downed Toronto FC, 2-1, on Sunday at rainy Crew Stadium in the MLS season finale for both sides.

Higuain scored in the 17th and 61st minutes, securing a brace on the same day his brother Gonzalo, who plays for Real Madrid, scored twice in a La Liga game in Spain.

Columbus (15-12-7) finishes the season with 52 points, more than it had in the regular season last season to qualify for the playoffs. The Crew finished just one point out of a postseason berth in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto FC (5-21-8) ends the season on a 14-match winless streak, and finishes with just 23 points - the fewest in its six seasons in the league.

Higuain put Columbus in front early when he latched onto a loose ball near the edge of the area and slotted into the corner for an unassisted finish.

Toronto pulled even 10 minutes later when Ryan Johnson headed a pass to Andrew Wiedeman, who slotted to the bottom-left corner for his second goal this year.

Higuain secured a win for Columbus just after the hour mark when he was pulled down in the area by Terry Dunfield, then easily converted the penalty kick to the bottom left for his fifth goal this season.