TORONTO -- Tsubasa Endoh and Sebastian Giovinco scored in the opening 25 minutes while Jozy Altidore added one late as Toronto FC beat the Columbus Crew 3-0 on Sunday night in Major League Soccer action.
Endoh, rather fortuitously, got Toronto (9-7-6) on the board in the eighth minute when a shot from Giovinco deflected off his back which provided a spin that threw off Columbus (3-9-10) goalkeeper Steve Clark.
Giovinco was initially awarded with the goal but it was later credited to Endoh.
An unmistakable Giovinco goal happened in the 24th minute when he passed to Canadian midfielder Jay Chapman, who had created a little bit of room by nicely shrugging off his defender. Giovinco continued his run, got the ball back from Chapman and the diminutive Italian hit the ball first time with the outside of his right-foot which curled past Clark's outstretched right hand.
Altidore, who came off the bench in the second half, had his 87th minute shot deflected by Columbus defender Michael Parkhurst for his first goal of the season.
The victory gives Toronto the Trillium Cup, an in-season competition between the two teams that acknowledges their geographical proximity, after TFC and Columbus had drawn their previous two meetings this season.
Named after the plant that's both the official flower of Ontario and the state wildflower of Ohio, the Trillium Cup heads north of the border for just the third time in the nine years it has been contested.
Giovinco seems to be back in good form after snapping and eight-game scoring drought with three goals a week ago against D.C. United.
He had a goal and assist on Sunday but could have had a few more. He had an opportunity stopped in the 56th minute and then had two shots come back off the post seconds apart just three minutes later.
