Montreal’s Sirois, Crew’s Schulte unyielding in scoreless draw
Montreal’s Sirois, Crew’s Schulte unyielding in scoreless draw
Columbus Crew fans sing prior to the team’s MLS soccer match against CF Montréal on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal forward Matías Cóccaro, center, works against Columbus Crew’s Sean Zawadzki, left, and Aidan Morris during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois (40) makes a save during the first half of the team’s MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal forward Ariel Lassiter looks to cross the ball during the first half of the team’s MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew coach Wilfried Nancy, right, speaks with Malte Amundsen during the first half of the team’s MLS soccer match against CF Montréal on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal forward Matías Cóccaro looks to cross during the second half of an MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal forward Jules-Anthony Vilsaint, center left,shoots against Columbus Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, center right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew midfielder Aidan Morris, right, controls the ball against CF Montréal midfielder Nathan-Dylan Saliba, left, during the second half of an MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew’s Mohamed Farsi is stretchered off the pitch during the second half of an MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal head coach Laurent Courtois, center, gestures during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal Jules-Anthony Vilsaint chests the ball during the second half of the team’s MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal midfielder Samuel Piette, center left, is issued a yellow card during the first half of the team’s MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal forward Raheem Edwards passes the ball during the first half of the team’s MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois gestures during the second half of the team’s MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew midfielder Marino Hinestroza chases a pass during the first half of the team’s MLS soccer match against CF Montréal on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew’s Christian Ramirez (17) gestures to the crowd during the second half of the team’s MLS soccer match against CF Montréal on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal’s Mathieu Choinière (29) stands next to Jules-Anthony Vilsaint (28) after the final whistle in the team’s MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández (9) controls the ball during the second half of the team’s MLS soccer match against CF Montréal on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal’s Fernando Álvarez (4) celebrates with Joel Waterman (16) after a save by Jonathan Sirois against the Columbus Crew during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew’s Steven Moreira controls the ball during the second half of the team’s MLS soccer match against CF Montréal on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew fans sing prior to the team’s MLS soccer match against CF Montréal on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal forward Matías Cóccaro, center, works against Columbus Crew’s Sean Zawadzki, left, and Aidan Morris during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal forward Matías Cóccaro, center, works against Columbus Crew’s Sean Zawadzki, left, and Aidan Morris during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois (40) makes a save during the first half of the team’s MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal forward Ariel Lassiter looks to cross the ball during the first half of the team’s MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew coach Wilfried Nancy, right, speaks with Malte Amundsen during the first half of the team’s MLS soccer match against CF Montréal on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew coach Wilfried Nancy, right, speaks with Malte Amundsen during the first half of the team’s MLS soccer match against CF Montréal on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal forward Matías Cóccaro looks to cross during the second half of an MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal forward Jules-Anthony Vilsaint, center left,shoots against Columbus Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, center right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal forward Jules-Anthony Vilsaint, center left,shoots against Columbus Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, center right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew midfielder Aidan Morris, right, controls the ball against CF Montréal midfielder Nathan-Dylan Saliba, left, during the second half of an MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew midfielder Aidan Morris, right, controls the ball against CF Montréal midfielder Nathan-Dylan Saliba, left, during the second half of an MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew’s Mohamed Farsi is stretchered off the pitch during the second half of an MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal head coach Laurent Courtois, center, gestures during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal Jules-Anthony Vilsaint chests the ball during the second half of the team’s MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal midfielder Samuel Piette, center left, is issued a yellow card during the first half of the team’s MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal midfielder Samuel Piette, center left, is issued a yellow card during the first half of the team’s MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal forward Raheem Edwards passes the ball during the first half of the team’s MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois gestures during the second half of the team’s MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew midfielder Marino Hinestroza chases a pass during the first half of the team’s MLS soccer match against CF Montréal on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew’s Christian Ramirez (17) gestures to the crowd during the second half of the team’s MLS soccer match against CF Montréal on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal’s Mathieu Choinière (29) stands next to Jules-Anthony Vilsaint (28) after the final whistle in the team’s MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal’s Mathieu Choinière (29) stands next to Jules-Anthony Vilsaint (28) after the final whistle in the team’s MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández (9) controls the ball during the second half of the team’s MLS soccer match against CF Montréal on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal’s Fernando Álvarez (4) celebrates with Joel Waterman (16) after a save by Jonathan Sirois against the Columbus Crew during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CF Montréal’s Fernando Álvarez (4) celebrates with Joel Waterman (16) after a save by Jonathan Sirois against the Columbus Crew during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Columbus Crew’s Steven Moreira controls the ball during the second half of the team’s MLS soccer match against CF Montréal on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Jonathan Sirois had four saves for CF Montreal and Patrick Schulte stopped two shots for the Columbus Crew in a scoreless draw on Saturday night.
Columbus (3-1-6) upped its unbeaten run at home to 27 matches in all competitions and has played to five straight draws in league action. The Crew lead Montreal (3-3-3) in the series 13-9-6 with a 10-3-3 record at home.
It was the second clean sheet of the season for Schulte and Sirois, who notched the only save of the first half.
Laurent Courtois is in his first season at the helm in Montreal after spending the previous two seasons leading the Columbus Crew 2 of the MLS NEXT Pro Cup. Courtois and Crew 2 won the title in 2022 and lost in the title match in 2023.
Columbus is the only remaining MLS club still playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Wilfried Nancy took the reins at Columbus last season and led the Crew to the championship. Nancy spent 2011-2022 with the Montreal club in the coaching ranks.
The Crew’s last home loss was to Inter Miami on April 29 of last season.
Montreal travels to play Nashville SC on Saturday. Columbus returns to league play on May 11 when the Crew host FC Cincinnati.
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