CF Montréal remains undefeated following 0-0 draw against Columbus

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During an interview this week, Club de Foot Montréal defender Kamal Miller stressed the importance of his team starting to produce some clean sheets.

While Miller’s wish was granted Saturday afternoon, his team also failed to score a goal for the first time this season.

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CF Montréal remains undefeated following 0-0 draw against Columbus Back to video

CF Montréal and the Columbus Crew played to a 0-0 draw at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. CFM had scored six goals through its opening two games.

CFM remains undefeated, with a 1-0-2 record. This marks the first time since 2013, and only the second time in franchise history, the club has remained unbeaten through its opening three matches.

CF Montréal goalkeeper Clément Diop, never severely tested, recorded his first clean sheet since last Sept. 1, against Toronto FC. The Crew generated only three shots, none on target. CFM, conversely, had 20 shots and three on target.

The Crew, the defending Major League Soccer champions, have only played two regular-season contests this season — both ending in goal-less draws.

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CF Montréal was without American striker Mason Toye, who has scored a goal in each of the first two matches. He was absent due to a muscle strain in his left thigh, the club announced. As well, Repentigny midfielder Samuel Piette, who wore the captain’s armband last week, at Nashville, wasn’t among the starting 11, although he was on the bench and available.

Toye was replaced by Erik Hurtado, while Amar Sejdic started over Piette.

The Crew, in the midst of Champions League play — Columbus drew, 2-2, against Monterrey last Wednesday in the opening-leg of the quarterfinal — made five changes to their starting group.

There was little doubt which team dominated throughout the goal-less opening half. CFM had 11 shots, including two on target, while enjoying a slight 50.7 per cent edge in possession. The Crew failed to generate a shot.

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Hurtado had the game’s first opportunity of note, but his shot from the box went over the bar in the 17th minute. Two minutes later, Romell Quioto’s low shot from just outside the box, forced goalkeeper Eloy Room into a save.

Room is the Crew’s regular ‘keeper, although the team acquired Evan Bush, who spent the majority of his career with Montreal, during the off-season.

In the 36th, Quioto and Mustafa Kizza teamed on an offensive thrust. But the latter was faced with a sharp-angle chance. Room was able to make the stop with his foot.

CFM manager Wilfried Nancy was forced to make a substitution in the 55th, after Zachary Brault-Guillard suffered an injury. Brault-Guillard scored his first MLS goal last weekend and registered two assists in the season opener, against TFC. He was replaced by Clément Bayiha, making his first appearance of the season.

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Hurtado squandered a glorious chance in the 58th. With space in the box, he somehow missed the target.

Nancy made two more substitutions in the 64th. Hurtado was replaced by Finnish scoring threat Lassi Lappalainen, coming off an injury and making his season debut. Also making his debut for the team was Ahmed Hamdi, who replaced Sejdic.

Bradley Wright-Phillips did score a late second-half goal for the Crew, but the play was ruled to be offside.

CF Montréal’s next game is May 8, against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The game will be played at Rio Tinto Stadium, located in Sandy, Utah, the Whitecaps’ home base this season due to COVID-19 and border restrictions.

hzurkowsky@postmedia.com

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