Fresh off Wednesday night’s massive Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup win, the Columbus Crew rattled off another victory with a 2-0 dispatch of CF Montréal on Saturday night at Stade Saputo.
“Yes, it’s something that I'm being reminded often, and it's just a fact,” interim head coach Laurent Courtois said about snapping the road streak. “The fact that we also want to change that narrative is that fact is really important. We showed that. Again, I felt that looking back at the game at Nashville and Miami, we were more than decent. We know soccer sometimes can be really cruel, but we were aware of what we were able to perform before that game. It was just a matter of playing together. This is what they did tonight.”
Making a return to his hometown, Mo Farsi provided the Crew with the game-winning goal after 57 minutes with a low, well-driven back-post strike. The goal, his second of the season, came on a counter after captain Sean Zawadzki won the ball at midfield in a tackle.
“Great night tonight for all of us. Three points away. 2-0, clean sheet. Great performance from the group,” Farsi said. “So very happy for the group. I think we deserve that one. And for my goal, very happy, very special to come here to play, but scoring a goal, I don't even know how to describe this. I am just super, super happy to score in front of my family and my friends.
“Never in my life, I thought I would come back home here and score a goal. So, I'm happy that I scored this goal, and we won the game.”
The lead doubled in the 68th minute when Brais Méndez uncorked a long-range free kick for his third MLS goal. Since his debut on Aug. 1, Méndez has notched a goal contribution in nine of 14 appearances across all competitions: six goals, four assists.
“I knew that the goalkeeper thought that I was going to cross the ball, I knew I could catch him by surprise, that’s why I tried to place it as far as possible from him so he would not be able to reach it, at the far post,” he said. “I hit it well and I scored.”
Farsi wasn’t the only member of the Black & Gold returning to familiar territory. Courtois, who also coached CF Montréal said he was satisfied with his club’s performance, particularly with the clean sheet.
Patrick Schulte earned his fifth clean sheet of the season, and he now has 25 career regular season shutouts – tied for the second-most - in Crew history (Jon Busch and Eloy Room) and 30 across all competitions (three in MLS postseason, one in Concacaf Champions Cup and one in Leagues Cup).
While the vibes are clearly good following the win, Méndez said the best is yet to come.
“Everything is a process, and everything needs its time, especially for me to adapt to my teammates, the Club, the culture, the hot weather of Columbus. The humidity is different to Spain’s. I feel better now and more connected to my teammates. I am very happy to help the team and be here. Big things will come; I am sure of it.”
With the win, the Crew’s next match arrives next Sunday, when the Black & Gold welcome Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Be there.
Don’t forget, you can also be part of club history on Oct. 21, when the club hosts the U.S. Open Cup Final against Western Conference side St. Louis City SC.
Columbus is competing to win its third trophy in four years in the Ohio capital. Let’s make history together.
Single Match Tickets
Check out the 2026 Columbus Crew schedule and secure your spot at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field!
