Columbus Crew’s dream in the CONCACAF Champions Cup will continue in Monterrey.

The current MLS champions collected a 2-1 victory inside Lower.com Field Wednesday evening, setting the stage for an engaging second leg in Mexico. Cucho Hernandez played a key role in the team’s offense by scoring a goal and always threatening Monterrey with a second tally. A momentary equalizer scored by Maxi Meza in the second half put some pressure on Crew’s back, but Jacen Russell-Rowe replied with another goal to bring the first leg 2-1.

The first goal chance for the Crew came when forward Diego Rossi found Cucho with a through ball from the left side of the field with the outside part of his foot, but Rossi’s poor touch went slightly wide of goalkeeper Esteban Andrada’s right post.

Just two minutes later, Hernandez received a pass at the edge of the box and his shot to the right post was deflected by Andrada’s right hand.

Around the 20^th minute, Monterrey countered with a strong scoring opportunity. Following midfielder Darlington Nagbe’s poor touch trying to play out from the back, forward Brandon Vazquez’s shot came off the post and saved the Black & Gold.

The first goal of the night arrived in the 25^th minute when Hernandez played a 2v1 with forward Jacen Russell-Rowe and his quick shot from the edge of the box beat Andrada to bring the score 1-0.

A 50-yard switch with one touch by Hernandez in the 27^th minute put defender Steven Moreira face to face with defender Gerardo Arteaga for a good chance, but his crossed ball had a poor touch by Russell-Rowe inside the box and was deflected.

Monterrey replied in the next play and almost scored as Jesus Gallardo cut across the box and the header went wide. To finish the first half, Hernandez’ shot was knocked out by Andrada with both hand and sent to a corner that was later deflected.

Following an additional minute of added time, referee Oshane Nation ended an even first half at Lower.com Field.

After 10 minutes of sharing the ball possession, Monterrey hit first in the second half. Following a crossed ball by Gallardo that goalkeeper Patrick Schulte couldn’t reach, midfielder Maxi Meza pushed it to the end of the net in the 57^th minute for the 1-1 equalizer.

The Black & Gold tried to keep the ball and find open spaces to look for another advantage in the game.

After a two-minute ball possession, Crew drilled Monterrey’s defense through the middle of the field. Hernandez and defender Yevhen Cheberko played a 2v1, but Cheberko’s soft shot was easy enough for Andrada to grab it with no pressure.

There is a saying in soccer that two headers inside the box equals a goal, and this time was not any different.

Rossi’s corner kick in the 72nd minute was the pathway for the 2-1 in favor of Crew, as defender Sean Zawadski headed the ball to the second post and Russell-Rowe reacted faster than his opponent to head it inside the goal.

Andrada saved two more times Monterrey from receiving another goal. After deflecting Hernandez’s shot from outside the box, he then knocked out defender Yaw Yeboah’s soft shot.

Schulte became the hero of the night when close to the end blocked midfielder Sergio Canales’ 1v1 shot to keep the advantage for the Crew and lift the hosts to victory.

The CONCACAF semifinals will be decided Wednesday, May 1st in Monterrey, Mexico at 10 p.m. ET.