May 14, 2025
Columbus Crew and CF Montreal play to a draw at Stade Saputo
On a windy evening at Stade Saputo, with skies quickly clouding over with what felt like imminent rain to come, CF Montreal welcomed the Columbus Crew onto their pitch. Luckily for everyone, the rain never came.
CF Montreal, fresh off their first win of the MLS season last week, when they defeated New York City FC at Yankee stadium, where now looking to keep the momentum going, and earn their first home win of the season. However, they face the second best team in the Eastern conference tonight, and this was never going to be an easy match-up.
See Also: CF Montreal to face Forge FC in Canadian Championships
It was a battle of opposite ends of the table. Columbus came into the game in second position in the East, while Montreal remain dead last. CF Montreal, however, have been playing much improved soccer of late, earning a win over Toronto FC at the Canadian Championship, and their first win of the MLS season in their last match, against New York City FC.
In the early moments of the match, both squads seemed cautious to make many moves, and the the action remained a possession game, heavily involving back passes and a very defensive minded feeling out period.
Slowly, the two squads began to test one another, but it was a half of very few chances.
At the half-hour mark, the action came into the Crew zone, where a pair of fancy moves paid dividends. First, Caden Clark stepped over a pass from Fabian Herbers, allowing the ball to continue on its path, where a nice back heel pass by Prince Owusu allowed the ball to gently roll towards Luca Petrasso who took a few steps with the ball, before blasting it low into the back of the Columbus goal, giving CF Montreal the lead at home. It was Petrasso’s first goal in the MLS.
A lead they would carry into half-time.
The second half began with a pair of great chances for the Columbus Crew in the first five minutes. Aziel Jackson had a great chance that he shot wide of the post, while Nathan Saliba made a beautiful defensive play to parry a shot from Daniel Gazdag out of play.
Ten minutes later, Jackson again had a golden chance that was snatched out of the air by a diving Jonathan Sirois.
Montreal seemed to be lost, on their heels and just responding to the Crew, unable to find possession of the ball or any way to mount any pressure of their own. The Columbus Crew were looking dominant, but still couldn’t solve goalkeeper Sirois.
In the 63rd minute, Sirois came out to challenge a play after defenseman Dawid Bugaj had made a critical error, and lost, leaving Crew striker Jacen Russell-Rowe with the ball and a wide open goal which he chipped the ball into. Sirois had been brave to challenge Russell-Rowe, and unlucky as the ball ping-ponged its way off a few shins before return to the boot of Russell-Rowe.
Columbus had drawn level.
The second half consisted primarily of CF Montreal fending off the Columbus Crew attacking, who earned several high quality chances, despite resting top scorer Diego Rossi and midfielder Sean Zawadzki.
Jonathan Sirois had to be sharp, and kept his team level, as they struggled to close out the match.
Columbus almost went up a goal in the 82nd minute, when Russell-Rowe ploughed a shot on goal, that needed a miraculous diving save from goalkeeper Sirois to keep the score level.
CF Montreal will next face Toronto FC in three days time, in a match that could go a long way to getting Montreal out last position. While CF Montreal has struggled this season, so too have Toronto FC, who no doubt will come into Stade Saputo looking to avenge their loss at the Canadian Championship two weeks ago.
Read More:
>> CF Montreal earn their first win of the season in New York
>> CF Montreal earn their first win of the season in New York
>> The Montreal Roses and Halifax Tides play to a draw at Stade Boreale
A win Saturday, would draw CF Montreal level with Toronto FC at ten points a piece – it’s not enough to start dreaming of a post-season berth; but beating rival Toronto FC and potentially putting themselves in a position to stick them in the basement would be something, at least.
Columbus, on the other hand, will next face Cincinnati, also on Saturday, May 17.
