Major League Soccer
CF Montréal dominates Columbus Crew 2-1 in MLS Regular Season clash
Late strike from N. Streit seals victory for CF Montréal after early lead and own goal
CF Montréal secured a 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, with goals from P. Owusu and N. Streit proving decisive in a match officiated by referee M. Badawi.
The visitors got off to a flying start, with P. Owusu opening the scoring in the 5th minute, assisted by G. Synchuk. It was a dream start for CF Montréal, who were playing away but showed no hesitation in taking the initiative.
Columbus Crew responded quickly, however, when in the 20th minute, T. Gillier of CF Montréal inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, leveling the scores at 1-1. The own goal gave the home side a lifeline heading into halftime, with the score tied at 1-1 at the break.
The second half remained tense and cagey, with both sides creating chances but failing to find the net. Discipline issues began to surface, with bookings handed out to players on both sides, including R. Camacho and A. Gomes for Columbus, and B. Vera, J. Neal, B. Ceballos, and M. Longstaff for CF Montréal.
With just over ten minutes remaining, CF Montréal broke the deadlock once again. In the 78th minute, N. Streit scored the decisive goal, with an assist from B. Vera, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead that they would not relinquish.
Despite late pressure from Columbus Crew, including a flurry of attacking moves in stoppage time, CF Montréal managed to hold on for the win. The result leaves both teams level on 20 points after 20 matches played, with Columbus Crew in 12th place and CF Montréal in 14th in the Eastern Conference.
Columbus Crew, under coach Laurent Courtois, deployed a 4-4-2 formation, while CF Montréal, led by Philippe Eullaffroy, opted for a 4-3-3 setup. The match was a tightly contested affair, with neither side able to dominate for long periods.
Looking ahead, both teams will need to regroup quickly as they continue their MLS campaigns. For CF Montréal, the win provides a crucial boost in the playoff race, while Columbus Crew must address their defensive frailties to improve their standing in the conference.
The result adds further intrigue to the Eastern Conference table, with both sides still very much in the hunt for a playoff spot as the season progresses.