Toronto FC rallies to defeat MLS-leading Columbus

Richie Laryea scored and had two assists, and Alejandro Pozuelo had a goal and an assist as Toronto FC rallied in the second half to defeat MLS-leading Columbus 3-1 on Sunday.

Toronto (8-2-4, 28 points) extended its unbeaten streak to three wins and a tie to pull to within two points of the Crew (9-2-3, 30 points) in the Eastern Conference.

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- Replay: Laryea on fire as Toronto beats Columbus

After an own goal by Toronto defender Chris Mavinga put Columbus ahead in the 40th minute, Jozy Altidore tied it 1-1 in the 48th, Pozuelo made it 2-1 in the 59th, and Laryea scored in the 76th.

Laryea, a Toronto native, capped the dominant second half with a nifty run down the right side as he maneuvered around four Crew for his fourth goal.

The match at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut was the first of six "home" games for Toronto because of Canadian quarantine rules regarding out-of-country travel due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Crew, which lost for the first time in seven games (4-1-2), entered the match having allowed five goals on the season.

Columbus outshot Toronto 8-2 in the first half, but the match turned around quickly after half-time.

Toronto tied it on Altidore's second goal of the season -- both coming in the past three games. Pozuelo passed to Altidore at the top of the 18 for his strike to the right corner.

Pozuelo, who leads MLS with nine assists, scored his sixth goal for the 2-1 lead with a shot from the top of the arc. He has scored in three straight matches.

Columbus had the better of the play in the opening 45 minutes but couldn't break through until the mistake by hard-luck Mavinga. The French defender committed his third-own goal in the past two seasons. He has never scored for Toronto in 78 career games (71 starts).

Saturday, the Crew play at FC Dallas while Toronto faces Philadelphia.