Columbus Crew SC is meeting Toronto FC for the third time this season when it takes on the Reds at BMO Field at 2 p.m. Saturday. There are a few story lines to this match: the rivalry between Crew SC and TFC supporters, the Golden Boot race between Kei Kamara and Sebastian Giovinco, and the battle for a higher seed in the playoffs.
And then there’s the Trillium Cup.
Now in its eighth year, the cup goes to the winner of the annual three-game series between Columbus and Toronto. The Black & Gold have won the Trillium Cup five times (2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013) and they are looking to reclaim the trophy from Toronto once again.
Crew SC is heading into Saturday’s match leading the current series with a win and a draw for a total of four points. The Black & Gold won the first match against Toronto, 2-0, in their home opener on March 14. The Reds’ Justin Morrow was issued a red card in stoppage time of the first half, putting Toronto down a man. Justin Meram and Kei Kamara capitalized early, scoring within four minutes of each other in the second half.
Crew SC seemed to have a lock on the Trillium Cup during the second meeting between the Eastern Conference foes on July 25. The Black & Gold led 3-0 thanks to goals from Kei Kamara, Tony Tchani and Ethan Finlay. But Toronto rallied back with goals from Giovinco, Collen Warner and Jozy Altidore, who finished a penalty kick in the 89th minute for the equalizer.
Given the first two results this season, Crew SC would win the Trillium Cup with a win or tie on Saturday. But even in defeat the Black & Gold could still get their hands on the trophy.
If the series finishes with an even number of points, the team with the greater goal difference in Trillium Cup matches will be the winner. Should the two teams still be tied, the team with the greater number of total goals in Trillium Cup matches will come out on top.
In the event that the two teams are tied in both goal difference and total goals, the tie breakers will be applied only to the average of Trillium Cup games played on the road.
Long story short, Toronto needs to defeat Crew SC by at least two goals to claim the Trillium Cup. Should Columbus score two goals or more on Saturday, the Reds would have to win with a goal difference of at least three.
