Columbus Crew SC got out to a 2-0 lead against the Montreal Impact inside of 15 minutes, lost the lead, and then won it back on a stoppage-time PK by Gyasi Zardes — adding up to a 3-2 win in Crew SC's 2018 home opener at MAPFRE Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Federico Higuain scored his 50th career MLS regular-season goal to open the scoring, making good on a penalty awarded when Montreal's Jukka Raitala fouled Lalas Abubakar in the box. Zardes repeated last week's feat by doubling the Columbus lead moments later, finishing on a wild free-kick sequence.
Ignacio Piatti and Raheem Edwards scored 2nd-half goals to bring the Impact back from their deficit — to what appeared, until the late penalty call, to be Impact coach Remi Garde's first MLS result.
Goals
- 12' – CLB – Federico Higuain (PK) Watch
- 15' – CLB – Gyasi Zardes Watch
- 59' – MTL – Ignacio Piatti Watch
- 85' – MTL – Raheem Edwards Watch
- 90' + 4' – CLB – Gyasi Zardes (PK) Watch
Three Things
THE BIG PICTURE:
The dramatic win got the Crew SC first to six points in the young season, putting them in a good, early position in what looks to be a competitive Eastern Conference. The Impact, meanwhile, are left looking for their first result of 2018 after coming tantalizingly close.
Next Up
- Columbus Crew SC: Saturday, March 17 vs. Philadelphia Union (2 pm ET | TV & streaming info)
- Montreal Impact: Saturday, March 17 vs. Toronto FC (3 pm ET | CTV, TSN, TVAS - full TV & streaming info)
