Toronto FC rallies in 2nd half to down league-leading Columbus
Montreal Impact lost 4-1 to New York earlier on Sunday
Canadian fullback Richie Laryea had a goal and two assists as Toronto FC rallied in the second half to defeat league-leading Columbus Crew SC 3-1 in a battle of Eastern Conference heavyweights Sunday.
Alejandro Pozuelo contributed a goal and an assist to help Toronto end Columbus' six-game unbeaten streak while extending its own undefeated run to four (3-0-1).
WATCH | TFC beat Columbus 3-1:
Laryea had a hand in Toronto's first two goals and then scored on a brilliant solo effort in the 76th, dancing past two defenders before firing home a shot from a tight angle.
It was a game of two halves.
While Toronto (8-2-4) had slightly more of the ball in the first half, Columbus had the better chances and led 1-0 at the break. But TFC came out flying in the second, imposing its will and showing off its championship credentials.
Columbus (9-2-3) went ahead in the 40th minute on a Chris Mavinga own goal. A fine Pedro Santos ball, aimed at Gyasi Zardes, landed between Mavinga and goalkeeper Quentin Westberg just outside the six-yard box. A sliding Mavinga's attempted clearance went into the goal.
Red Bulls down Impact
Tom Barlow scored twice to help the New York Red Bulls beat the Montreal Impact 4-1 on Sunday night.
Barlow pulled New York (6-6-2) even at 1 in the 14th minute on a well-placed cross from Mandela Egbo and made it 2-1 in the 35th off a back-of-the-heel pass from Daniel Royer.
WATCH | Barlow's 2 goals leads Red Bulls past Impact:
Royer connected in the 56th, and Kaku in the 57th.
Bojan scored for Montreal on a long shot in the fourth minute. The Impact (5-8-1) entered the game with just 19 players due to injury.
Timbers beat Whitecaps:
Felipe Mora's goal led the Portland Timbers to a 1-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday.
The victory extends the Timbers' (7-4-3) unbeaten streak to four games. The Whitecaps (5-9-0) have lost two outings in a row.
WATCH | Portland beats Vancouver 1-0:
Strikers Fredy Montero and Lucas Cavallini had a number of chances for Vancouver but ultimately couldn't even the score after Mora's tally in the fifth minute.
Goalie Bryan Meredith stopped six shots in his second game for the 'Caps, and Steve Clark had three saves for the Timbers to collect his third clean sheet of the year.
Despite playing the Timbers in Portland, the Whitecaps were technically the home team Sunday night. All three Canadian Major League Soccer clubs are playing the remaining games of the season in the U.S. and Portland is the 'Caps "home base."
On the TV broadcast, white and blue Whitecaps banners were superimposed over the seats in Providence Park and sounds of a cheering 'Caps crowed were piped in over the sound system.
With files from the Associated Press
