After a two-month drought and seven straight games without a win, the Columbus Crew got back on track on Wednesday night. The Columbus managed a 3-1 victory at CF Montreal, bouncing back from a disappointing Hell Is Real Derby loss to FC Cincinnati.

Sixty days, five draws and two losses have passed since the Crew’s last victory in MLS play against the New York Red Bull. The Black & Gold tackled a tough opponent away from home without the presence of forward Cucho Hernandez. Goals came from wing back Max Arfsten in the first half and forward Diego Rossi in the second in the early summer matchup.

The two teams split much of the possession, playing out from the back and crowding the midfield to create spaces to score in the first half.

Montreal warned the Crew in the 10th minute when, following an unfortunate deflection from an outside-the-box shot, the hosts scored the initial lead. However, the goal was ruled out due to an offside.

Just one minute later, a long ball to forward Sunusi Ibrahim beat the Black & Gold’s defense. His crossed ball found midfielder Ariel Lassiter, who opened his foot and the shot went slightly wide off the right post.

For the first 10 minutes of the game, the visitors held slow possession of the ball without finding any spaces.

The first opportunity for Columbus came in the 13th minute when Arfsten crossed the ball to the penalty spot, but midfielder Aidan Morris missed the target, and the shot went off target.

Arfsten put the Crew on the board by the 19th minute when defender Yevhen Cheberko intercepted a ball and played it deep to forward Diego Rossi, who crossed the ball into the penalty box to Christian Ramirez. The forward missed the shot and winger Alexandru Matan’s shot was cleared away by Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois. The rebound was caught by Arfsten for the first goal of the night and his second in as many games.

Just five minutes later, left back Yaw Yeboah sent a cross into the 18-yard box, and Ramirez controlled the ball for a half volley that ended in Sirois’ goal. Unfortunately for the visitors, following a VAR review, the goal was ruled out due to Ramirez’s offside position by a matter of inches.

Montreal nearly replied in the 30th minute when Cheberko’s deflection landed at Sunusi’s foot, but his shot flew above the crossbar

Again, coming from the left side, the Crew almost found the second goal of the night. Yeboah placed a deep pas to Rossi, who centered the ball to the far post. However, Ramirez couldn’t push it to the net.

In the 46th minute, goalkeeper Patrick Schulte dived in to keep the ball away from midfielder Joaquin Sosa and fouled him to earn a yellow card and give up a penalty kick. Midfielder Mathieu Choiniere scored the equalizer for the hosts from the spot.

Coming out from halftime, the initial part of the second half had little to no action, with both teams holding possession of the ball but not being effective with chances created.

Following a deflection, defender Steven Moreira and Ramirez drove a lethal counter attack for Rossi’s goal in the 59th minute. Moreira intercepted a pass in the Black & Gold’s own half and immediately passed to Ramirez. The forward played a quick ball to Moreira and ran towards the goal. Moreira’s deep ball to Ramirez was perfect for him to center it to Rossi to score the third goal of the match.

Three minutes later, Rossi intercepted another ball when the hosts were trying to play out from the back, but the defense recovered and won the challenge to save conceding a third goal.

Columbus slowed the game from that moment, and Montreal could barely create any chances.

In the 69th minute, defender Gabrielle Corbo received the ball from 30 yards out from Schulte’s goal, but his shot came off the top of the crossbar.

The last opportunity for an equalizer occurred a few minutes later when Montreal forward Mason Toye received a long ball and beat defender Rudy Camacho’s position. His soft shot ended up in Schulte’s hands.

When the game was almost over, forward Marino Hinestroza, subbed in a few minutes earlier, scored the final goal to bring the score 3-1 for the Crew. Following a great one-touch collective play by the offensive team, Hinestroza received the ball inside the penalty box and opened his foot to put it against the post.

The Crew now look for a second straight road win when the team heads to the Chicago Fire on Saturday night.