Columbus Crew SC made quick work of the Philadelphia Union in MAPFRE Stadium Saturday night with a three-goal barrage in the first 45 minutes on the way to a 4-1 rout of the visitors.
Kei Kamara continued his MVP-caliber start to the 2015 season with a goal and an assist, while Ethan Finlay returned to his 2014 form with two goals and an assist of his own in a night spent terrorizing the Union defense.
In his 200th match in the league, Kamara added to what has been a dream start to his MLS return with the opener in the 21st minute.
Finlay had found his way past Union defender Fabinho multiple times on the right wing in the opening minutes and when he broke free again, he lofted a ball to Kamara that the striker controlled with his chest and blasted underneath Philadelphia goalkeeper John McCarthy for his fifth goal of the young season.
While the Union struggled to generate any opportunities on goal in the first half, Columbus continued to create.
In the 32nd minute, Finlay was on the receiving end of a cross for his first goal of the season. Waylon Francis put a ball from Columbus' left side directly onto Finlay's foot, and the winger redirected it past McCarthy on his first touch to give Crew SC the 2-0 lead.
The first-half onslaught wrapped up just before the half in the best individual effort of the night.
Emanuel Pogatetz floated a long ball toward Justin Meram, who was being guarded by Maurice Edu. And while Edu had the physical edge over the winger, Meram managed to flick the ball in front of him, outmuscle the defender and carry the ball 40 yards before slipping a shot past McCarthy to round out the half.
Rookie Eric Ayuk would lessen the blow for Union fans by smashing a header past Steve Clark for a goal in the 64th minute. Despite the 3-1 scoreline, the 18-year-old celebrated with a series of backflips, earning the only two Union highlights of the night in the same play.
But Finlay would get the night's last word with his second of the match in the 74th minute thanks to a blistering run and a beautiful Kamara pass that left the winger one-on-one with McCarthy in a chance that he easily finished to bring the final score to 4-1.
The second win in a two-game home stand gives Crew SC (3-2-2) its first streak of the season, while the Union (1-5-3) earned their second defeat in a row.
