TORONTO -- Jermain Defoe scored twice and Doneil Henry headed in the winner in injury time as Toronto FC defeated the Columbus Crew 3-2 in Major League Soccer action Saturday.
Defoe, the former Tottenham Hotspur star that was by far the biggest name in Toronto's much-celebrated off-season signing spree, scored on a penalty shot, and then added a second when he one-timed a flick from Brazilian striker Gilberto.
The 21-year-old Henry, however, was the star of the afternoon. The six-foot-two defender muscled his way in on a free kick with about a minute left in the game to head in a goal past Crew 'keeper Steve Clark.
The goal boosted Toronto's record to 5-4-1 and sent the 22,591 fans at a sun-drenched BMO Field home happy.
Justin Meram and Augustin Viana scored for Columbus (4-4-5).
Meram put Columbus on the scoreboard in the 18th minute -- several nice passes by the Crew found Meram alone just outside the top of the 18-yard-box, and he fired a shot past Toronto goalkeeper Joe Bendik.
Defoe converted a penalty three minutes later to tie the game after he was pulled down in the box by Tyson Wahl.
Viana put the Crew ahead 2-1 in the 65th minute when he headed in a corner kick from the top of the six-yard-box, sneaking the ball just inside the right post.
The goals were the only decent shots on target on an afternoon that saw Columbus hold a slight advantage in possession but win the majority of the one-on-one battles.
Gilberto, the Brazilian striker and Designated Player that was also part of Toronto's off-season rebuild, started on the bench for the first time with the team. Gilberto, who will earn US$1.2 million this season, has gone without a goal in nine games with Toronto, and coach Ryan Nelsen gave Luke Moore the start in his place.
Gilberto replaced Jackson in the 65th minute, and had a shot on his first touch, but launched it well over the Columbus net. He would have fans cheering with his nifty flick that led to Defoe's tying goal.
Both teams were playing without their captains -- Toronto's centre back Steven Caldwell was serving a suspension for his red card in TFC's 2-2 draw at Kansas City a week earlier, while Columbus was missing forward Frederico Higuain to a suspension.
Toronto has only beaten Columbus four times in the 21 meetings between the two teams. Seven of the games have resulted in ties. Toronto has only beaten the Crew twice at BMO Field in 10 matchups.
Toronto was coming off a 1-1 draw with the Montreal Impact on Wednesday in the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final. TFC travels to Montreal on Wednesday for the second leg of the Championship that doesn't count toward MLS standings.
They're back in Toronto next Saturday against the San Jose Earthquakes.
