They have something with the royals… Columbus Crew already eliminated Tigres and now defeated and took a 2-1 lead over Monterrey in the first leg of the Champions Cup Semifinals, an advantage that would allow them to advance to the Final with a draw in the duel of Lap.
The first real danger came in the 7th minute when the ball was passed around the area until Brandon Vazquez connected it with a half turn and caused a save from goalkeeper Schulte to prevent the scoring from opening.
However, that arrival only served to wake up the MLS team, which responded with arrivals from Diego Rossi and ‘Cucho’ Hernández, but Andrada fought back and prevented the local goal.
The duel continued to be open, with scoring options and Brandon Vazquez let go the second clear he had in a shot that hit the post and that moments later became a bucket of cold water.
Columbus Crew put together a good collective play that ended at the feet of ‘Cucho’ Hernández, who went one-on-one with Andrada and scored very well to make the score 1-0, which only caused the locals to grow and stay close to the second before halftime.
For the complement, the tone of the game did not change, although the definition of the visitors did, and they found the tying goal in the 58th minute when Gallardo overtook the left, scored a good diagonal and Maxi Meza arrived on time to make it 1-1.
Once again it had to be a play from the visitor that woke up the locals who began to generate football and took advantage of the stopped ball to score the winning goal.
Russell-Rowe appeared in the area to score a smashed shot with his head, blocking Andrada and sending the score to 2-1, which gives him a very different outlook for the return duel in Monterrey.
The locals still had options to extend the advantage and Berterame, who came from the bench, was also able to equalize, but he wanted to define and only hit the ball at the goalkeeper who saved it very well.