September 19, 2026
Farsi, Méndez goals topple CF Montreal at home
Mohamed Farsi and Brais Méndez each scored as the visiting Columbus Crew toppled CF Montreal at home at Stade Saputo, adding to Montreal’s season-long woes.
CF Montreal are once again at the bottom of the MLS’ Eastern conference, with just five wins on the season, and despite adding star Alexis Sanchez to the fold, things continue to look glum for the bleu, noir et blanc.
See Also: Prince Owusu brace sends CF Montreal to Canadian Championship final
Despite winning their last match against Vancouver FC, propelling themselves to the final of the Canadian Championship, CF Montreal have now lost their last four matches in MLS play, and fans are beginning to grow restless.
Six minutes in, Rodriguez came within inches of giving Columbus the lead, when he rang a shot off the crossbar from in close. Montreal’s defense looked as if they weren’t fully ready to start the contest, and this play served as the wake-up call that dragged them into the match.
In the 35th minute, a blocked Prince Owusu shot fell to Fabien Herbers who put the ball away, but was immediately flagged for offside by the linesman. Herbers was clearly offside, having fallen on the play not long before Montreal had claimed possession of the ball to earn the scoring opportunity. The score remained level.
Three minutes into the second, Hennadii Synchuk had a wonder chance to open the scoring in his start since returning from injury when he received a pass from Alexis Sanchez that left him completely open to the right of the goal, but sailed his shot attempt clean over the bar and to the side of the goal.
Confusion on the pitch, following a bad Synchuk sliding challenging that could well have been a card, was seemingly allowing Columbus to the advantage that seemed to stunned everyone on both sides – except Mohamed Farsi. Farsi saw an opening as he moved up field, hearing no whistle, be unleashed a low, hard kick aimed at the far post from distance that Montreal goalkeeper Sebastian Breza was unable to get to.
Farsi had given the Columbus Crew while the crowd booed. Unclear as to what they were booing; the called that should have favored Columbus anyway, the goal, of CF Montreal seemingly forgetting that the game was still in play. Whatever the case, Fasri and Columbus now held the lead in the match.
In the 60th minute, Montreal thought they had drawn level when Prince Owusu appeared to have scored – but a VAR review denied the goal. For the second time in the match, Montreal had scored on an offside play. Both times, Herbers was the guilty party.
Just eight minutes later, Columbus doubled their lead, when Brais Méndez smashed a volley over everyone from a free kick, once again from distance, and once again, Breza was able to get a glove on the ball but not enough to keep it out of his goal.
Into the 75th minute, where Columbus had a gorgeous opportunity to increase their lead further, when Gonzalo Tapia stormed down the side of the pitch passed Efraín Morales who hadn’t the pace to prevent 33 from getting off a great shot. This time though, Breza was able to get to the ball, making a fabulous save and a nifty play afterwards to thwart the ball towards his defender.
In the dying moments of the match, the Montreal-born Farsi once again gave Montreal headaches, this time placing a superb pass over to Taha Habroune at center who belted the ball high above the net.
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The win keeps playoff hopes alive for Columbus, as Montreal’s chances fade further and further downwards. While technically there is still a chance to climb back into a wild card spot, four straight losses isn’t the way to do that.
CF Montreal will next be in action of September 26th, when they host another team currently tying to squeeze their way into a playoff spot in the East, Cincinnati FC, at Stade Saputo. Columbus return home to host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on September 27th.
