It’s been a wildly up and down season for both Columbus Crew SC and the Montreal Impact, but they’ve both found their way into the conference semifinals. The Crew come into this match with the No. 2 scorer in MLS, while Montreal have the hottest.
Impact vs. Crew: Preview, time, TV schedule and how to watch online
The Montreal Impact have gotten the better of Columbus Crew SC this season ... and that was before they had Didier Drogba.
Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Columbus earned themselves a first-round bye with a huge performance on Decision Day. They would have lost that spot to D.C. United with a draw or loss, but obliterated the Black and Red, 5-0, even though Kei Kamara was sitting out with a suspension. It was their second straight shutout win over a playoff team, following their 2-0 victory over Toronto FC.
Montreal have been rolling since the acquisition of Didier Drogba, who has been the best player in MLS since he showed up. They’ve won four games in a row, with Drogba scoring the game winners in two of those matches.
When they last met
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Even before Drogba showed up, Montreal got the better of Columbus. In June, goals from Maxim Tissot and Andres Romero helped the Impact end an incredible 25-game road winless streak. A month later, Montreal recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over Crew SC, scoring twice in the opening 10 minutes.
Key player -- Didier Drogba
Undoubtedly the greatest midseason signing in MLS history, Drogba has been utterly dominant for the Impact since showing up. He obliterated rivals Toronto FC in back-to-back weeks, scoring to end their season by costing them a chance at a first-round bye, then putting them to the sword in the first round itself. Not only does he have 12 goals in 12 games, but four of them are game winners.
Key matchup -- Montreal's CBs vs. Kei Kamara
With no disrespect intended to Kamara, one of the top players in MLS this season, he is not the same kind of talent as Drogba. Montreal’s center forward might score goals against a perfectly positioned defense, but the same isn’t necessarily the case for Kamara. Despite being the (much) quicker of the two center forwards, he’s also the one more likely to be contained by excellent center back play, and Montreal will need exactly that.
Montreal Impact injuries and suspensions
Out: Cameron Porter (knee), Kenny Cooper (knee), Andreas Romero (knee). In doubt: Justin Mapp (toe), Kyle Bekker (undisclosed).
Columbus Crew SC injuries and suspensions
Out: Kristinn Steindorsson (knee). In doubt: Matt Lampson (concussion), Chad Barson (ankle).
Match Date/Time: Sunday, 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Stade Saputo, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
TV: Fox Sports 1 (U.S. - English), Fox Deportes (U.S. - Spanish), Sky Sports 5 (U.K.), TSN1, RDS2 (Canada)
Online: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer 2 Go (U.S.), Sky Go (U.K.), TSN Go (Canada)
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