After a slow start to their 2026 MLS season, Toronto FC is showing signs of life and rejuvenation.
Their campaign started with a tough loss that saw them concede six goals. However, after a humbling defeat against the Vancouver Whitecaps, they have gone unbeaten in three games. It includes a victory over the Columbus Crew at home by 2-1.
In that game, they were down 1-0 at halftime. However, José Cifuentes and centre back Walker Zimmerman had other ideas, and they scored one goal each to give Toronto FC the victory. This was their first come-from-behind win in MLS play since the summer of 2024.
After the halftime, it looked like Toronto would have a long day at the office. It was because they were down 1 by the 4th minute.
Andrés Herrera played a ball out from his half of the field into acres of open space down the right for Max Arfsten. After that, Max delivered the perfect cross to the edge of the six-yard box. Wessam Abou Ali jumped two Toronto FC defenders and connected a header that sailed into the top-right corner.
Toronto FC didn’t let that affect their morale. They continued to move forward and played ball. Before the Halftime, Josh Sargent, DeAndre Kerr, Jonathan Osorio, and Dániel Sallói tried to equalize the position.
Toronto FC carried the bulk of play and were rewarded for their efforts when Cifuentes scored a goal to level the scores in the early second half. Some time after that, Zimmerman connected one to give his team a decisive lead.
After that, the doors were shut on Columbus as it was an uphill task to battle with Toronto FC’s defenders. The Columbus Crew tried everything in their arsenal to try to equalize the position.
According to coach Robin Fraser, it is an incredible achievement for the team not to concede a goal at the end. In last week’s game against the New York Red Bulls, they conceded a late qualifier.
He said, “We talked a lot during the week about finishing out games where we have a lead. (The way Columbus played) can be very disruptive to the team that’s leading, but I thought that our guys handled it quite well, and their game management over the last 10 minutes of the game, including the seven minutes of extra time, I think is just another step in the growth of this team.”
Captain Jonathan Osorio was also in sync with his coach. “We have a lot of experienced guys on the team that, in those situations when things don’t go your way, you stay calm, you remain focused on the task, keep doing the right things, especially when you give up an early goal. There’s lots of time to work your way into the game still and put the game in your favour. And I thought we did that.”
