The Columbus Crew head up to Canada to take on CF Montreal as they look to snap out of the MLS malaise that maligns the reigning MLS champions. The Crew did not match the intensity and speed of play needed for their matchup against FC Cincinnati last weekend, dropping the contest by a 2-1 scoreline. Maybe the team is not used to having a week, or in this case even more than a week to prepare for a match due to their consistent midweek matches. Columbus needs to pick up a win, and they are now on the road until June 22nd and the Black & Gold must start picking up points on the road since they did not get the needed results at home. 

Wing back Mo Farsi is no longer listed as questionable on the injury report but it sounds unlikely he will start in this match. Forward Jacen Russell-Rowe was training to the side earlier in training when media was available, and was listed as questionable on the injury report, it is unlikely he starts in this match. Goalkeeper Evan Bush will still remain out with his wrist injury.

Here is how the Crew could lineup:

Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte will start again. There was not much Schulte could have done on the two goals FC Cincinnati scored. The first goal was scored on the back post as a 5’6” midfielder Alex Matan was marking 6’4” forward Kevin Kelsey, Cincinnati took advantage of this mismatch. 

The defense had a decent match against Cincinnati but they took advantage of the two opportunities the Columbus defense fell asleep on. Head coach Wilfried Nancy told the media that the team looked at these two goals and felt better after that meeting. Defenders Rudy Camacho, Yevhen Cheberko, and Steven Moreira will start in this match. Cheberko is having a positive season defensively and has also shown the courage to push forward in the attack into the channel and not just down the sideline. Defender Malte Amundsen seemed hesitant against Cincinnati to make his trademark long passes. 

Wingback Yaw Yeboah did not start against Cincinnati and that potentially was a negative for Amundsen, but expect Yeboah to be back to start in this match. Last match the coaching staff tried a new wrinkle with Matan as the right wingback, the results were mixed and it should be expected that utility man Sean Zawadzki will move back as the right wingback in Farsi’s absence.

There was some concern with midfielder Aidan Morris as it was revealed after the match that Morris trained on the side a couple of sessions before the Cincinnati match and was subbed off early as a precaution. Columbus then conceded two goals. Nancy put to bed any speculation of injury concerns with Morris and expect the midfielder to be available in this match. Midfielder and captain Darlington Nagbe needs to be the catalyst to raise the intensity after the rivalry loss. 

Don’t expect too much rotation between forwards Cucho Hernandez and Diego Rossi, they seem to have engines that can run all day every day. The Crew needs their DPs on the field and scoring to pick up the much-needed away points. Matan has been a positive offensive chance provider and arguably should have earned a penalty last match, but Nancy might look to another option for the attack in this match. Forward Marino Hinestroza brings similar dribbling abilities as Matan, but Hinestroza brings something the Black & Gold seem to desperately need right now, someone willing to try something to put the backline and goalkeeper under pressure. Columbus has plenty of possession and can work the ball around the box, but it seems as if this team needs something more to break through this malaise.