Dominic Oduro scored late in the first half to help the Columbus Crew continue their dominance of Toronto FC with a 1-0 victory Saturday.
Federico Higuain, who hit the post and the crossbar on two attempts in the first half, set up Oduro in the 42nd. Oduro used his speed to beat Doneil Henry to Higuain's through ball and flicked it past Toronto goalkeeper Joe Bendik for his fifth goal of the season.
''We did OK,'' said Oduro. ''I don't think it was one of our best games on the road, but at the end of the day we were able to grind it out and come out with the three points.''
Columbus has never lost at BMO Field, going 2-0-5. Toronto has beaten the Crew only once in 17 career meetings, a 4-2 victory in September 2011 at Columbus Crew Stadium. Toronto's overall record against the Crew is 1-9-7.
Toronto (1-6-4) has lost five straight in all competitions, being outscored 12-2 during the slump, and is winless in its last nine MLS matches. The struggling club is 1-16-8 in MLS play since July 28, 2012 and hasn't won at home since July 18.
''Of course, you're frustrated, you're angry, you're everything,'' said Toronto captain Darren O'Dea, who joined the club last August.
Columbus (4-4-3) came in having lost its last two and had only one win in its previous six matches. The Crew had also been shut out in three of its last four matches, scoring only once in the other.
Higuain beat Bendik from 25 yards out in the 19th minute but the ball slammed off the crossbar, and he narrowly missed again when he hit the left post in the 33rd.
