Columbus Crew move above Montreal after 2-0 away win

Columbus Crew secure a 2-0 win in Montréal

Columbus Crew defeated CF Montreal 2-0 at Saputo Stadium on Saturday, September 19, moving to 23 points after 26 regular-season matches. CF Montreal remained on 21 points. The result lifted Columbus to 13th in the Eastern Conference, while Montreal stayed 15th.

Farsi breaks the deadlock

The match was goalless until the 57th minute, when Mohamed Farsi put Columbus ahead. Sean Zawadzki supplied the assist for the opening goal. Montreal responded with two substitutions six minutes later, sending D. Sealy and W. Carmona on for G. Synchuk and F. Herbers, but the hosts could not find an equalizer.

Columbus doubled its advantage in the 68th minute through B. Mendez. The goal arrived shortly before the Crew made two changes, with G. Tapia replacing J. Martinez and B. Lennon coming on for A. Zaroury. Montreal made further substitutions in the second half, including N. Streit for B. Ceballos and M. Longstaff for V. Loturi, but the score remained unchanged.

Montreal had more possession but lacked cutting edge

The statistics show a contest in which Montreal controlled more of the ball without turning that advantage into goals. CF Montreal held 54% possession and completed 462 of 520 passes, compared with Columbus’s 46% possession and 390 accurate passes from 450 attempts.

Columbus produced the greater attacking volume, recording 13 total shots to Montreal’s eight. The Crew also had three shots on goal, while Montreal managed two. Both teams had five blocked shots, and Montreal won five corners to Columbus’s one. The expected-goals figures remained modest at 0.44 for Montreal and 0.89 for Columbus, consistent with a match decided by two efficient finishes rather than a sustained scoring barrage.

Discipline and standout performances

B. Ceballos was booked for Montreal after two minutes, setting an early disciplinary marker. Columbus’s S. Moreira received a yellow card in the 32nd minute, while Samuel Piette was cautioned in the 84th. Montreal finished with 19 fouls to Columbus’s nine and two yellow cards to the visitors’ one.

Brais Méndez was the highest-rated player, earning an 8.0 rating after 94 minutes. He recorded one goal, one shot on target and two key passes. Farsi also finished strongly with a 7.9 rating and a goal, while Zawadzki received a 7.6 after supplying the assist and making seven tackles. The win ended Columbus’s match with a clean-sheet result, with Patrick Schulte making two saves.

A narrow change in the Eastern Conference

Columbus entered the round 13th with 23 points from 25 matches, while Montreal was 15th on 21. After the result, Columbus’s record stood at 6 wins, 5 draws and 14 losses, with a -7 goal difference. Montreal’s record became 5 wins, 6 draws and 15 losses, with a -22 goal difference after conceding twice.