The Columbus Crew boosted their Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoff hopes on Saturday night, as Gyasi Zardes scored twice in a 2-1 win over CF Montréal, who failed to pull away in the Eastern Conference standings. Crew supporters were ecstatic as their club won all three games at Lower.com Field, providing them a boost in their quest for a postseason berth and more hardware.

At the 44th minute, Zardes rescued the Crew from a sluggish first half. The United States men's national team striker sprang to volley a cross from Derrick Etienne past James Pantemis, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead. After Mathieu Choiniere threw the ball away, resulting in a Crew counter-attack, Zardes took it upon himself to give Columbus a 2-0 lead in the 62nd minute. Zardes took advantage of a lapse in Montréal's defense, blasting a rocket to the far post for his sixth goal of the season.

Montréal took advantage of a Crew turnover in the 74th minute to get back into the game with a chance on goal. Matko Mijevic, who came off the bench to make his MLS debut, hit a vicious shot. Evan Bush, playing against his previous team for the first time, made a diving stop to prevent Miljevic from scoring his second goal for his new club in all competitions.

In second-half stoppage time, Montréal robbed Bush of his clean sheet. Lassi Lappalainen's shot hit the post, but Columbus' weak defending allowed Romell Quioto to score in the 92nd minute.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Sean Faska]