Columbus Crew midfielder Lucas Zelarayan, left, shields the ball as Toronto FC defender Kadin Chung defends during the second half of an MLS soccer match on Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio.Joe Maiorana/The Associated Press
Lucas Zelarayan and Derrick Etienne Jr. each had a goal and an assist to help the Columbus Crew rally to a 2-1 win against visiting Toronto FC on Saturday.
Jesus Jimenez scored in the 14th minute for Toronto (0-2-1, 1 point) before Zelarayan extended his goal streak to six games in the 56th minute to forge a tie. Etienne scored the winning goal in the 65th minute for the Crew (2-0-1, 7 points).
Columbus has five wins and a draw in six games dating to last season, while Toronto FC have a 0-5-4 mark in their past nine games.
Zelarayan tied it with a 22-yard shot for his fourth goal of the season, matching his four in three games to end the 2021 campaign.
Etienne scored his second of the season after Zelarayan’s free kick into the box was headed down by Jonathan Mensah. Etienne swooped in with a side-volley that deflected off Toronto midfielder Jonathan Osorio.
“I wanted to be more aggressive on all parts of the field,” Etienne said afterward.
Conditions were miserable for the Crew’s second home game of the season with swirling flurries, a kickoff temperature of 23 degrees and a wind chill of 10.
Columbus allowed two late corner-kick goals to 10-man San Jose in a 3-3 draw the previous match.
Toronto indirectly scored off a set piece for the 1-0 lead.
The Crew failed to clear a corner and the Reds maintained possession long enough for Alejandro Pozuelo to whip a pinpoint cross to an open Jimenez for the header from the middle of the box.
The Crew’s Eloy Room made five saves, four in the first half.
Alex Bono had three of his five saves in the opening half.
Toronto sustained an early blow when forward Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty left with an undisclosed injury. He was replaced by Ifunanyachi Achara.
Toronto FC host D.C. United next Saturday, while the Crew play at the New York Red Bulls on March 20.