Columbus Crew host CF Montreal at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field on Wednesday evening in a fixture that could prove decisive in their respective pushes for playoff positioning — both sides arriving in dismal shape, having won just once apiece in their last five outings.
The Crew slumped to a 3-1 defeat away at Charlotte last Saturday, with C. Adams grabbing their sole consolation in the 41st minute, compounding a fortnight of inconsistency. Montreal, meanwhile, ground out a goalless draw at home against DC United on the same day, extending their alarming run on the road to five consecutive matches without victory — four losses and one draw since mid-July.
Columbus arrive as marginal favourites, though their home record offers only qualified encouragement. The Crew's last five at ScottsMiracle-Gro read win-loss-win-draw-loss — evidence of a side incapable of building momentum. Yet Montreal's travelling woes run far deeper. The Canadian outfit has failed to win away from Saputo Stadium all season, a damning statistic that renders them vulnerable despite their otherwise respectable league standing.
The Crew will lean on Dániel Gazdag and Jamal Thiaré, both of whom have found the net in recent weeks. Gazdag netted twice in the 2-1 home victory over FC Cincinnati on 25 July, whilst Thiaré headed home in the 41st minute of that same encounter. Diego Rossi has also chipped in, adding a goal to his tally over the past fortnight as the home attack — however stuttering — offers enough to trouble Montreal's porous defence.
Montreal's salvation lies with Prince-Osei Owusu, their most prolific performer in recent weeks with two goals across consecutive draws at home. He netted in both the 2-2 stalemate against New England Revolution on 1 August and the 1-1 draw with DC United last weekend, whilst Brayan Vera also found the net in that New England fixture. The arrival of Alexis Sanchez — the Chilean international who touched down in Montreal earlier this week — could yet inject decisive quality into their attacking third, though TSN reports he is only expected to debut midweek pending final clearances.
Season statistics reveal a gulf-wide chasm barely registers between these sides. Columbus boast a goal difference of plus-27 across 31 matches; Montreal sit at plus-25 from 36 games. The narrow spread suggests a fixture destined for fine margins — and possibly stalemate. Both teams have misfired at critical moments this season, and neither possesses the clinical edge required to break a deadlock convincingly.
Columbus look the likelier victors given home advantage and Montreal's road paralysis, but the Crew's own erratic form — and Montreal's stubborn defensive record in low-scoring affairs — suggests a draw edges ahead as the most probable outcome. Expect a cagey, attritional contest where both sides' attacking frailties may well outweigh their occasional flashes of creativity.