Toronto FC 2 Columbus SC 0
Toronto FC made Columbus SC pay for its widely panned rebrand with an emphatic 2-0 win, making sure the team that abandoned its Crew was still looking for a win in its new name.
Goals came early and late for the Canadians with Michael Bradley opening the scoring in the 13th minute as he punished Columbus for being unable to clear the ball. Columbus tried over and over to clear the ball but failed to do so allowing the Toronto attack to find Bradley who finished the chance.
Yeferson Soteldo nearly scored a goal on his MLS debut after Nick DeLeon’s shot came back off the bar but his effort was denied by a Saad Abdul Salaam save. That save was matched by Toronto keeper Alex Bono who leaped to deny Luis Diaz.
Early in the second half Toronto nearly had its second when Soteldo’s corner found Omar Gonzalez who headed for goal only to be denied by his US Teammate, Darlington Nagbe, who headed it off the line.
The winner came three minutes from time when Bradley sent in a free-kick for Gonzalez whose header found Jozy Altidore to head home the goal right on the line.
Inter Miami CF 0 CF Montreal 2
It may not be a “traditional” Florida derby, but the first match involving two Florida-based teams in 2021 saw the temporary residents of CF Montreal take advantage of the team that welcomed them in claiming a 2-0 win over Inter Miami CF.
14 minutes into the match the Quebecois had the lead as Bjorn Johnsen scored his first goal for the club. Djordje Mihalovic played a through ball and Johnsen used his speed to get to the ball ahead of Leandro Gonzalez Pirez.
Just 11 minutes later the Norwegian made it two, Romell Quioto made a rampaging run down the left and then cut back from the by-line for a tap-in.
The game was postponed for two hours by a lightning delay which seemed to energize the Herons but they couldn’t get past James Pantemis who earned his first clean sheet.
Photo courtesy Major League Soccer
Florida Soccer Report 