Columbus Crew SC vs. Montreal Impact | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 16
Columbus Crew SC vs. Montreal Impact
MAPFRE Stadium – Columbus
October 7 – 7:30 PM ET

TV: TSN5, TVA Sports

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US

LOCAL TV: FOX Sports Ohio

Columbus Crew SC will try to create separation in the Supporters' Shield race when they host the Montreal Impact Wednesday night at MAPFRE Stadium.

Crew SC (9W-2L-4D) are winless in their last two matches, playing FC Dallas to a 2-2 draw at Toyota Stadium Saturday night, while the Impact (5W-8L-2D) snapped a four-match losing streak with a 2-2 draw of their own against the Chicago Fire.

Columbus have dominated the all-time series at MAPFRE Stadium, losing just once in 11 matches. David Accam scored the winner early in the second half in a 2-1 victory in the last meeting on July 20, 2019.

Columbus Crew SC

Pedro Santos continued his fine form, scoring the second-half equalizer as the Crew played FC Dallas to an entertaining draw Saturday night in Frisco. However, Lucas Zelarayan and Eloy Room suffered injuries, which added to Columbus' resolve, coach Caleb Porter said, while being critical of referee Ted Unkel in the process.

"I'm really proud of my guys," Porter said in the post-match press conference. "You know, the way we played that second half, with all the adversity we were dealing with. Guys dropping like flies injury-wise, an official who I've been vocal that I'm not a fan of, he's never gonna help me, and that was the case again."

He added, "Our guys just never gave in. They kept fighting, they kept working and kept grinding, they rolled their sleeves up. Whether we would have won the game, drew the game, or lost the game, I would have been proud of this group. In the second half, they showed character, they showed the personality, they showed the aggression. That's the way we need to play. That's our game, relentless, and [with] intensity."

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Vito Wormgoor (D) - ankle injury
- OUT: Darlington Nagbe (M) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Waylon Francis (D) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Lucas Zelarayan (M) - hamstring strain
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

Montreal Impact

After looking physically and mentally exhausted during a four-match losing streak, the Impact recharged their batteries back in Montreal and returned to earn a point in a 2-2 draw with the Chicago Fire at Red Bull Arena Saturday. They had a second-half lead through Maxi Urruti, but conceded a Francisco Calvo equalizer just six minutes later. Thierry Henry backed goalkeeper Clement Diop, whose gaffe gifted the Fire their first goal.

“This is what I don't understand in the game," Henry said after the match. "How many times did he save us? Sometimes it can happen that you're going to make a mistake. When a striker misses a 1-v-1 for me, it's as bad as anything else. It's a mistake also, but it's less highlighted because you don't concede a goal on that play. We conceded the goal, it can happen, but Clement has been magnificent in games for us, he's saved us so many times."

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Steeven Saba (M) - left foot injury
- OUT: Mathieu Choinière (M) - ankle injury
- OUT: Orji Okwonkwo (F) - hamstring injury
- OUT: Anthony Jackson-Hamel (F) - knee injury
- OUT: Emanuel Maciel (M) - sports hernia
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: Lassi Lappalainen (M), Jukka Raitala (D)