Columbus Crew SC rallies from three goals down to draw with Toronto FC

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:30 am

Federico Higuain's penalty in the 90th minute capped an improbable comeback from a three-goal deficit as Columbus Crew SC extended their unbeaten streak to eight with a 3-3 draw against visiting Toronto FC at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday.

Toronto took a 3-0 lead in the 57th minute on a free kick by Sebastian Giovinco, but Gyasi Zardes scored his ninth goal of the season in the 67th to make it 3-1 by heading a corner kick from Higuain.

Defender Alex Crognale, a Columbus native, scored his first MLS goal in the 81st minute for Crew SC, which has four wins and four draws in the past eight games.

He slotted a loose ball after a headed pass by Josh Williams deflected off of Toronto's Michael Bradley. In the 89th minute, Bradley kicked Zardes in the leg to send him to the ground to set up the penalty for Higuain, who has four goals on the season.

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The ending for Columbus was better than their start. Victor Vazquez scored a penalty in the 17th minute, then set up Tosaint Ricketts for a 2-0 lead in the 38th.

Vazquez's third goal of the season ended Crew SC's shutout streak at 511 minutes, the eighth-longest in league history. Teammate Ryan Telfer created the penalty when he was clipped by Artur.

Toronto made it 2-0 when Giovinco found a cutting Vazquez and he sent the ball across the box to Ricketts, who had entered in the 22nd minute for the injured Jonathan Osorio.

Crew goalkeeper Zack Steffen and midfielder Wil Trapp missed the game for U.S. national team duty. They will also not be available against the New York Red Bulls on June 9.