Noah Streit scored his first MLS goal to break the deadlock as CF Montreal broke two long streaks with a 2-1 win over the host Columbus Crew on Wednesday.
Streit broke out of the defending third before unleashing a 30-yard strike to the upper right corner in the 78th minute for the first win for Montreal (5-10-5, 20 points) after three losses and five ties.
He played his 16th match after joining the team from Swiss side FC Basel 1893.
Prince Owusu scored in the fifth minute for Montreal before an own goal by goalkeeper Thomas Gillier allowed the Crew (5-10-5, 20 points) to tie it in the 20th minute.
Montreal was 0-4-3 vs. Columbus since a 2-1 win on Aug. 3, 2022.
Midfielder Brandan Craig preserved the Montreal win in the first minute of stoppage time with a goal-line clearance of a Sean Zawadki attempt.
That was in contrast to defensive blunders, the second more egregious, which led to a 1-1 halftime tie.
First, Steven Moreira’s giveaway under Montreal pressure was gladly accepted by Hennadii Synchuk.
He fed Owusu down the middle box and with his first touch moved to the right before putting a shot past Patrick Schulte as the Crew’s poor starts continued.
They allowed a score in the opening 35 seconds and two in the first nine minutes of a 3-1 loss at Charlotte FC on Saturday.
Of Owusu’s 12 goals, eight have been on the road, despite Montreal’s 2-7-1 away record.
Montreal gifted the Crew comeback when Gillier butchered a back pass by Jalen Neal from the top of the box and knocked the ball into the net with his right foot.
Schulte kept the match level with three saves in three minutes during a downpour early in the second half beginning with Dani Pereira’s 30-yard strike. Schulte followed with a full extension right-handed stop of Owusu and denied a header by Matty Longstaff on the ensuing corner.
Gillier countered in the 66th by corralling a low drive from Dylan Chambost.
Forward Alexis Sanchez made his Montreal debut in the 79th minute. The 37-year-old owns Chile’s all-time records for goals (51) and appearances (168) and most recently played for Spain’s Sevilla FC in La Liga before signing on Aug. 11.
–Field Level Media
