Canadian teenager Jacen Russell-Rowe lifts Columbus Crew past Toronto FC

Canadian teenager Jacen Russell-Rowe, a former Toronto FC academy product, had two assists in his first MLS start to help the Columbus Crew defeat Toronto 2-1 in MLS play Wednesday.

Sean Zawadzki, in just his second MLS game, and Darlington Nagbe scored for Columbus, which led 2-0 after 30 minutes.

Toronto, with Spanish playmaker Alejandro Pozuelo pulling the strings, had plenty of possession and chances but failed to convert until Jesus Jimenez scored in the 54th minute.

Toronto (5-9-3) came into the game having lost just one of its last seven outings (4-1-2) in all competitions with reinforcements on hand. Italian star forward Lorenzo Insigne and veteran defender Domenico Criscito await the MLS secondary transfer window opening July 7 to take the field for TFC. Both were in the stands Wednesday.

Russell-Rowe signed a first team deal with Columbus earlier Wednesday after leading the MLS Next Pro League with 11 goals for Crew 2. He had seen just 34 minutes of MLS action prior to Wednesday, making two substitute appearances earlier this month on a short-term loan from Crew 2.

And the 19-year-old native of Brampton, Ont., played his part in the opening goal, teeing the ball up for Zawadzki who hammered a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box high into the goal past Alex Bono in the 18th minute. It was a first MLS goal for Zawadzki, a former Crew academy product who played collegiate soccer at Georgetown.

Russell-Rowe picked up another assist in the 30th minute, feeding Nagbe on a rapid-fire counterattack that saw the Crew cut through the Toronto defence like butter. The Nagbe goal — his third of the season — came one minute after Curacao international 'keeper Eloy Room made a fine stop to deny Kosi Thompson after a