The Montreal Impact only need a fourth consecutive win over Columbus to advance to the Eastern Conference finals but the Crew got what could prove a potentially deciding goal last weekend.
They'll try to use that to their advantage and reach their first conference finals in seven years Sunday.
Montreal rallied to win the first leg of the aggregate-goal series 2-1 on its own field last weekend with Johan Venegas netting the tiebreaker in the 77th minute. The Crew, though, got an away goal from Federico Higuain in the first half and could advance with a 1-0 victory on that tiebreaker.
"Part of the management of this is that 2-1 is a decent result. We got the road goal. We all know they count away goals, so it was a big goal and I think we're in a decent position," Columbus coach Gregg Berhalter said.
Columbus, however, hasn't figured out how to beat the Impact so far this season, losing the three matchups by a combined 7-2 margin. Another defeat would keep the Crew from moving to their first East finals since they won their lone MLS championship in 2008.
Montreal, meanwhile, has been in new territory since a 3-0 win over Toronto FC on Oct. 29, the franchise's second playoff game. The weeklong break has given the Impact a good chance to rest since their two matches in four days.
"We started off little flat both mentally and physically and it took us a little bit of time to get going after two emotional games earlier in the week," goalkeeper Evan Bush said. "But to fight back and get the result you need and go to Columbus with the advantage is something positive for us and we are happy with that."
Montreal's current five-game win streak matches its longest since joining MLS in 2012 and it will try to add to that with just its second victory in seven all-time trips to Columbus. The Impact earned that lone win June 6 with Maxim Tissot and Andres Romero scoring in the second half for a 2-1 result.
Higuain tallied the Crew's lone goal in stoppage time and has three goals in his last four games against Montreal. Kei Kamara, the league's co-leader in the regular season with 22 goals, has one in eight career matchups and none in his last six.
The Impact will bring a new weapon into this visit, former Premier League star Didier Drogba, who has 12 goals in 13 contests for Montreal.
"Drogba ... makes good runs in transition moments. The biggest thing is just being aware of it, communicating and executing," Columbus midfielder Wil Trapp told the team's official website. "Back against the wall, we have to win the game. Our fans are going to be incredible. You play the game for these kinds of games."
Montreal's Patrice Bernier has two goals and one assist in the two playoff games. His tying goal in the first half last weekend was his second in 10 career matchups with the Crew.
