Jackson and Russell-Rowe each score a goal as Crew beats Montreal 2-1

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Aziel “AZ” Jackson scored a goal in the 11th minute, Jacen Russell-Rowe added a goal and an assist and the Columbus Crew beat CF Montreal 2-1 on Saturday night.

AZ, on the counter-attack, ran onto a long arcing ball played ahead by Russell-Rowe and skipped a shot between defender Joel Waterman and goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois — who had charged off his line — that ricocheted off the back post into the net.

Russell-Rowe blasted a rising first-touch shot, off a through ball from Steven Moreira, from the edge of the penalty area in the 26th minute to give Columbus (4-0-3) a 2-0 lead.

Prince Owusu scored in the 52nd minute for Montreal (0-5-2). Caden Clark banged a straight-away shot off the left post, but Owusu slipped behind the defense for the rebound and flicked a side-netter inside the right post to cut the deficit to 2-1. The offside flag initially went up but the goal counted after video review.

Victor Loturi appeared to have scored the tying goal in the 82nd minute but was deemed offside after video review and the Crew maintained their lead.

Sirois finished with three saves.

Interim coach Marco Donadel, who took over after Laurent Courtois was fired on March 24 following Montreal's 0-4-1 start, is still in search of his first win. The club played the Chicago Fire to a 1-1 tie in his debut.

The Crew had 55% possession and outshot Montreal 11-5 (5-1 on target).

After seven consecutive road games to open the season, Montreal plays its home opener against Charlotte FC next Saturday.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

Columbus Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)

Columbus Crew fans cheer prior to a MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)

CF Montréal midfielder Caden Clark (23) dribbles the ball as Columbus Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe (19) tries to defend during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)

Columbus Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe (19) heads a ball as CF Montréal defender Joel Waterman (16) tries to defend during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)

CF Montréal defender Joel Waterman (16) reacts after a penalty call during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Columbus Crew, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)

Columbus Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe (19) and CF Montréal defender Luca Petrasso (13) fight for a loose ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)

Columbus Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe (19) and midfielder Aziel Jackson (13) celebrate after Russell-Rowe scores a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)

Columbus Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe (19) celebrates after scoring a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)

Columbus Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe (19) and midfielder Aziel Jackson (13) celebrate after Russell-Rowe scores a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)

PARIS (AP) — Kylian Mbappé’s legal team is going on the attack with multiple lawsuits to try and resolve the legal dispute between the World Cup winner and his former club Paris Saint-Germain.

The France striker argues PSG owes him 55 million euros ($61 million) in unpaid wages, and his lawyers say they have asked the Paris court to start proceedings.

Legal expert Thomas Clay said Mbappé has been authorized to make a precautionary seizure of the money, which was frozen from PSG’s bank accounts on Thursday. A legal hearing is scheduled for May 26, he added.

“This story has been going on for just over a year now. One year was the deadline we set for ourselves for trying to resolve this dispute as peacefully as possible,” Mbappé’s main lawyer, Delphine Verheyden, said.

“As the months went by, Kylian Mbappé still hasn’t been paid the missing 55 million euros. A decision has been taken, this time to go on the attack.”

Verheyden said they were also asking the French sports minister to intervene and to legally challenge a decision by the appeals commission of the French Football Federation, which ruled that Mbappé’s appeal against PSG was not receivable.

Separately, she said that Mbappé has asked the federation to inform UEFA that PSG failed to pay him what he was owed, in breach of the club's salary obligations. Verheyden suggested that if PSG was found responsible it could lose the licence allowing the team to play in the Champions League.

Last October, the French league appeals commission upheld the decision ordering PSG to pay Mbappé the unpaid wages he wants. Mbappé claims the club owes him three months’ salary and the last third of a loyalty bonus.

He joined Real Madrid last summer on a free transfer after scoring a club-record 256 goals in seven years at PSG.

PSG argued that when Mbappé was sidelined before the 2023-24 season — following his decision not to extend his contract — there was a verbal agreement with him opting to relinquish bonuses in order to return to the team.

“They have not shown any evidence of any agreement,” Verheyden said.

Mbappé’s relationship with PSG ended amid deep tensions and some fans booed him in his last home game at Parc des Princes. PSG felt let down by Mbappé after offering him the most lucrative contract in club history when he signed a new contract in 2022.

But Mbappé was frustrated because he felt promises to sign key players were not kept. When he signed that deal, he was paraded in front of fans holding up a jersey with 2025 on it. Mbappé was reportedly annoyed because the contract was until 2024 — with a player’s option for an extra season.

Mbappé stunned PSG in June 2023 by informing the club he would not take the option for an extra year. With his contract effectively into its final year, it put PSG in the position of needing to sell Mbappé to avoid losing him for nothing when the contract expired.

His PSG career could have ended that summer amid a tense transfer standoff.

After telling the club he would not extend, Mbappé was left off a preseason tour to Japan and South Korea and forced to train with fringe players. PSG said it would rather sell him than let the player leave for free in 2024, but he rejected a 300 million euros move to Saudi Arabia team Al-Hilal.

PSG left Mbappé out of the opening league game of that season but he soon returned to the lineup following talks. Mbappé’s legal team said on Thursday it will start an action against PSG for harassment because of the way he was treated.

They will also start another legal procedure before an industrial tribunal, while Mbappé and his mother have filed lawsuits for the abuse they received online.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Kylian Mbappe's lawyers Delphine Verheyden, second right, Frederique Cassereau, right, Thomas Clay and Pierre-Olivier Sur, right, attend a press conference, Thursday, April 10, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Kylian Mbappe's lawyer Delphine Verheyden attends a press conference as Kylian Mbappe's legal team is going on the attack to try and solve the legal dispute between the World Cup winner and his former club PSG., Thursday, April 10, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Kylian Mbappe's lawyers Pierre Olivier Sur, right, shows a document as Thomas Clay looks on, during a press conference as Kylian Mbappe's legal team is going on the attack to try and solve the legal dispute between the World Cup winner and his former club PSG, Thursday, April 10, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Kylian Mbappe's mother Fayza Lamari, and his father Wilfried Mbappe attend a press conference as Kylian Mbappe's legal team is going on the attack to try and solve the legal dispute between the World Cup winner and his former club PSG, Thursday, April 10, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

FILE - Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe applauds fans at the end of the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium in London, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Kylian Mbappé's legal team is going on the attack to try and solve the legal dispute between the World Cup winner and his former club PSG. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)