Erik Hurtado Traded From CF Montreal to Crew After Refusing to Get COVID-19 Vaccine
Jul 8, 2021
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - MAY 12: Defender and Forward Erik Hurtado (11) of CF Montreal go after the ball during the Inter Miami CF match against CF Montreal on May 12, 2021 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, FL. (Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CF Montreal forward Erik Hurtado was traded to the Columbus Crew for $200,000 in general allocation money on Thursday after he chose not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The 30-year-old from Virginia signed a one-year deal with Montreal last February that included a second-year option. He now heads to his fourth MLS club after previous stints with Sporting Kansas City and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
“There was some interest in Erik during the past few weeks and we listened to the offers, even though we were satisfied with Erik’s work. Because he’s not vaccinated against Covid-19, his situation was problematic and we started considering a trade when we got the confirmation that the team could return to Montreal. Before proceeding, Erik also confirmed that he was not comfortable taking the vaccine, so we concluded this deal, which we felt was very satisfactory. We would like to thank Erik for his professionalism and wish him good luck in his career.”
In seven games for Montreal, the forward started twice and recorded one assist.
Lucas Zelarayan, Crew Beat Sounders 3-0 to Win 2020 MLS Cup Final
Dec 12, 2020
Columbus Crew players celebrate a goal against the Seattle Sounders during the first half of the MLS Championship soccer match Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Lucas Zelarayan scored two goals and assisted on another as Columbus Crew SC defeated Seattle Sounders FC 3-0 in the 2020 MLS Cup on Saturday at Mapfre Stadium.
Zelarayan's 25th-minute goal gave the home side a 1-0 advantage, and he assisted on Derrick Etienne's effort six minutes later. He added an 82nd-minute tally to cap the 3-0 victory.
The 28-year-old Argentinian midfielder fired Harrison Afful's cross past Seattle goalie Stefan Frei and into the back of the net for the first goal:
Columbus entered halftime with a 8-2 shot advantage (3-0 shots on goal) despite Seattle holding possession for 65 percent of the first half. They couldn't have played much better, and ESPN's Taylor Twellman gave a shoutout:
Seattle ramped up the pressure in the second half, outshooting Columbus 11-7 and putting a pair of shots on goal. However, Sounders FC couldn't find the back of the net, and Zelarayan earned the brace off a laser into the upper-left hand corner of the net:
The win marks Columbus' second-ever MLS Cup victory and a particularly sweet one for their fans, who fought to keep the team from moving to Austin, Texas, as former Sports Illustrated journalist Grant Wahl noted:
3 years later, after Columbus fans saved their team, the Crew wins MLS Cup XXV in front of the people who fought so hard to keep them in Ohio. ⭐️⭐️ https://t.co/a1pxWknAdVpic.twitter.com/3xWlc9pjl7
Columbus Crew SC's first MLS Cup occurred in 2008 after defeating the New York Red Bulls.
Seattle's season ended in disappointment, but the Sounders still has four MLS Cup appearances in five years, including two wins.
They'll also always have their epic Western Conference Final comeback when they overcame a 2-0 deficit in the 75th minute to defeat Minnesota United FC 3-2.
