Amundsen Scores Twice as Columbus Crew Beat Toronto FC 4-2

Malte Amundsen scored twice, his first career multi-goal game in MLS, as the Columbus Crew beat Toronto FC 4-2 on Saturday afternoon at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. The win was Columbus's fifth in its last six games and lifted the Crew to 38 points on the season.

Gonzalo Tapia opened the scoring in the 16th minute, tapping home a first-touch cross from Mohamed Farsi into a wide-open net. Amundsen doubled the lead in the 21st, heading home a corner kick delivered by Dylan Chambost, and Columbus went to halftime up 2-0 in front of 19,487.

Amundsen redirected another Chambost cross in the 48th minute to make it 3-0. Substitute Brooks Lennon added the fourth in the 60th, three minutes after coming on for Santiago Rodríguez. Dániel Sallói pulled one back for Toronto in the 69th, his team-leading ninth goal of the season, and the Crew were reduced to 10 men a minute later when Sekou Bangoura was shown a second yellow card for a foul just outside the box.

Toronto appeared to pull another goal back from the ensuing free kick, but Matheus Pereira's effort was ruled out for handball. Josh Sargent fired a powerful shot from outside the box in the 81st to make it 4-2, assisted by substitute Emilio Aristizábal, but the visitors' comeback fell short as Columbus held on.

Chambost finished with three assists. Patrick Schulte made five saves for the Crew, while Luka Gavran made two for Toronto. The win was Columbus's third straight and moved the club (11-15-5) two points ahead of Toronto and the New York Red Bulls for the Eastern Conference's final wild-card spot. Toronto (8-10-12) returns home to host D.C. United at BMO Field on Wednesday night.