Game falls into Crew's control

Reds lose at home after Columbus nets two second-half goals

Canadian Jacen Russell-Rowe, centre, set up one of the Crew’s two goals

Columbus 2

Toronto FC 0

Next: Saturday at Colorado

Second-half goals by Cucho Hernández and Andrés Herrera lifted defending champion Columbus to a 2-0 win over host Toronto FC in an MLS game Wednesday.

Toronto had more of the attack in a scoreless first half but it took Hernández just six minutes to show his quality after coming on to start the second half. Canadian Jacen Russell-Rowe set up the goal, staving off defender Richie Laryea to feed the 25-year-old Colombian star. Hernández paused, took a look to see where goalkeeper Sean Johnson was and curled a shot past the diving keeper from the edge of the penalty box for his 14th goal of the season.

The goal, before an announced crowd of 21,355 at BMO Field, snapped a 231-minute drought for Columbus.