Crew and CF Montreal settle for unsatisfying draw

Luca Petrasso scored in the first half for CF Montreal and Jacen Russell-Rowe answered for the visiting Columbus Crew in the second, which made for a 1-1 final Wednesday night.

Though Montreal (1-8-4, 7 points) has earned four points in its last two matches, an unforced error ultimately kept the home side from a second straight win. Montreal is 0-2-2 at home this season.

Columbus (7-1-5, 26 points), meanwhile, has now posted back-to-back draws amid a 2-0-2 stretch. The Crew, who rested star Diego Rossi during this congested stretch of matches, are 3-0-3 on the road in 2025.

Though Columbus was somewhat the aggressor out of the gate, it was Montreal that struck first in the 29th minute. Via some exceptional passing in the Crew box, Prince Owusu back-heeled the ball to Petrasso, whose point-blank strike proved too much for Columbus keeper Patrick (one save) to handle.

Columbus outshot Montreal 5-2 in the first half, but only the hosts put a ball on target. However, the Crew burst out of halftime determined to equalize.

One minute out of the break, Russell-Rowe got a quality look from the top of the box but missed right. Two minutes later, Montreal's Nathan Saliba blocked an up-close attempt from Daniel Gazdag.

However, it was Montreal that did itself in and allowed Columbus to equalize in the 63rd minute. Via an ill-advised and lazy back pass by Montreal's David Bugaj, the ball ended up on the boot of Russull-Rowe. He maneuvered past sliding host goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois -- who made an attempt to avoid disaster while well out of his box -- and easily converted into the empty goal.

Russell-Rowe nearly put Columbus ahead in the 82nd minute, again inspired by a poor Montreal back pass. This time, however, Sirois used his left hand to make a brilliant deflection over the bar. Sirois (three saves) was stout down the stretch for Montreal, which managed just four total shots Wednesday.

Columbus is 4-0-3 against Montreal since a 2-1 home defeat in August 2022. The Crew have not lost at Montreal since 2019.

--Field Level Media