Hernandez scores three, Crew cruise past CF Montreal

Cucho Hernandez scored 3 times, together with as soon as on a second-half penalty kick, and the visiting Columbus Crew cruised to a 4-2 Major League Soccer victory over CF Montreal on Saturday night time.

After falling behind 3-0, CF Montreal had a second-half push but it surely wasn’t sufficient to catch the Crew at Stade Saputo.

The Crew additionally benefited from an personal aim by Gabriele Corbo, whereas Mahala Opoku and Jules-Anthony Vilsaint scored for Montreal (11-14-2).

Montreal’s spectacular house file didn’t seem to intimidate the visiting Crew who regarded to maintain the ball, get numbers ahead, and press excessive up the pitch as usually as potential.

The dedication to get ahead would show deadly within the 14th minute when Corbo tried to dam a cross however despatched it into his personal web as an alternative. This appeared to open the flood gates because the Crew would add one other simply 10 minutes later.

After receiving the ball out huge in a complicated place, Diego Rossi picked out Hernandez who made a late run to the second submit and despatched a robust header previous Jonathan Sirois.

As groups traded golden scoring probabilities all through the remainder of the half, Columbus would add a 3rd proper earlier than the break in the identical approach they’ve damage Montreal all sport. With possession out huge, this time it might be Yaw Yeboah who discovered Hernandez with a low cross.

Montreal started the second half with seemingly renewed vitality, solely needing 5 minutes to get one again. Substitute Jules-Anthony Vilsaint picked the pocket of former Montreal defender Rudy Camacho and laid it off for Opoku who scored, reigniting the house crowd.

Just after the hour mark, Hernandez went down within the penalty space after a sort out from George Campbell. While the official had not given a penalty, Video Assistant Referee beneficial a assessment that led to the decision being deemed a spot kick which Hernandez dispatched, sealing his hat trick.

Montreal’s reply was equally swift as Matko Miljevic’s cross discovered Vilsaint, who scored his first MLS aim, bringing Montreal again to a two-goal deficit.

Just as Montreal started constructing momentum and discovering probabilities, the Crew’s composure on the ball took the wind out of the house facet’s sails and secured the three factors on the street.

MLS will now have a two-week break as gamers report back to their nationwide groups. Both groups will probably be in motion once more on Sept. 16 as Montreal hosts the Chicago Fire and Columbus travels to Florida to face Orlando City SC.