Columbus Crew SC entered Camping World Stadium on Saturday night needing a win against Orlando City SC to keep pace in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt. An Ola Kamara brace combined with an Ethan Finlay strike and Orlando City own goal to provide Crew SC maximum points for the first time in Orlando.
Finlay opened the scoring early for Crew SC. His sixth minute strike sparked a three-goal first half after Kamara was put in on goal via a pin-point Justin Meram ball. Kamara and Finlay were 2-on-1 against Orlando City goalkeeper Joe Bendik, making no mistakes with the finish.
WATCH: #ORLvCLB: Ethan Finlay post-match interview
All in all, Finlay finished with the goal and two assists for six goals and eight assists in 2016. The midfielder also has five goals and two assists over his last seven matches.
After a 22nd minute Seb Hines own goal off a Hector Jimenez corner kick, Kamara added Crew SC’s third goal just before halftime. He was repaid by Finlay on an almost identical 2-v-1 attack on goal as the first goal. Finlay fed Kamara into an open net for the three-goal lead into halftime.
Kamara finished with two goals and one assist for Crew SC on the night, closing the match with a cold-blooded chip in the 95th minute. Kamara has now scored 13 goals this season, and it was his third multi-goal performance of the season.
WATCH: #ORLvCLB: Ola Kamara post-match interview
Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark finished with seven crucial saves as the home side pushed forward in search of a comeback. With the victory, Clark registered his sixth win of the 2016 regular season and the 35th of his MLS regular-season career. That ties Jon Busch, who also recorded 35 career regular-season wins in Black & Gold for second all-time in team history.
Crew SC next plays on Sunday, September 25 when it returns to MAPFRE Stadium to face the New England Revolution in a nationally televised contest at 7 p.m.
