Matias Sanchez and Dominic Oduro scored early and Andy Gruenebaum made three saves as the Columbus Crew snapped Montreal's three-match winning streak with 2-0 victory over the Impact on Saturday night.
The Crew (5-5-5), who had two ties and a loss in their previous three games, won for the second time in seven home games.
''They jumped on us. We weren't really sharp the first 15 or 20 minutes,'' Montreal midfielder Justin Mapp said. ''We gave up a couple of goals. On the road you're fighting an uphill battle. We made it hard on ourselves.
''We expected them to have energy and come at us. We weren't prepared. Playing every few days you kind of get in a rhythm. Having a couple of days off, maybe it takes a little bit of time to get back into your rhythm (but) no excuses.''
The win was the Crew's first over a team sitting higher in the standings in 30 matches.
''It gives the team some confidence,'' Crew coach Robert Warzycha said.
Sanchez scored his first MLS goal in the sixth minute after taking a pass from Oduro and putting a shot on the frame that deflected off Montreal's Jeb Brovsky, leaving goalkeeper Troy Perkins going the wrong way.
It was the kind of break the Crew needed after its recent performances and losing midfielder Edie Gaven and defender Glauber to season-ending knee injuries in the past three weeks.
''It lifted the team's spirits,'' Oduro said.
Oduro netted his team-leading seventh goal in the 22nd, stealing the ball from Collen Warner for a partial breakaway that he finished with a slotted ball past a charging Perkins.
''(Warner) underestimated my speed,'' Oduro said of his takeaway.
