Columbus Crew SC are in prime position to reach the MLS Cup Final as Justin Meram and Kei Kamara gave the home team a 2-0 victory in front of another loud and sold out MAPFRE Stadium (and record crowd of 21,617!) in the first leg of the Eastern Final against New York Red Bulls.
Justin Meram gave Crew SC the best possible start when the winger fired home after just 9 seconds. Straight from the kick-off Crew SC pushed the ball up field to target-man Kamara who knocked it onward to Ethan Finlay. The ball bounced up before falling to Meram who smacked the ball past Luis Robles in the Red Bulls goal and ignited the fuse of the already explosive Crew faithful.
New York quickly regrouped and launched several waves of attacks against the Crew SC backline and ‘keeper Steve Clark found himself in the firing line on several occasions and the home team defense, buoyed by the home team crowd, kept the visitors from equalizing.
The rest of the game became a tail of missed chances for both teams as New York worked on pushing men forward and Crew SC tried to catch out the Red Bulls on the break but neither team were able to get the ball into the net.
With less than 5 minutes to go and Columbus looking content to hold the 1-0 lead, Cendrick Mabwati, the unsung hero of the Crew’s last play-off win, wiggled his way into the New York box and fired a shot that Robles saved. Unfortunately, for Red Bulls fans at least, the rebound fell to the feet of Kei Kamara, who happily poked the ball into an empty net and seal the victory for Crew SC.
Columbus will take the two-goal lead into Red Bull Arena next Sunday for the second leg.
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Matt Ellis is a freelance photographer who covers bands that visit the city and the Columbus Crew MLS team. More about Matt can be found at Matt Ellis Photography.