Photo by Anne-Marie Sorvin / USA Today Sports

By ADAM TROXTELL

The Vancouver Whitecaps extended their unbeaten streak on Wednesday, though Kei Kamara had a thing or two to say about it.

The Columbus Crew striker scored twice inside BC Place in a 2-2 draw that put the Whitecaps three points ahead at the top of the Western Conference. Both times the home side had to fight back to earn at least a point, though the game was there to win.

Octavio Rivero’s fifth goal of the season and a second-half strike from Darren Mattocks saved the point for the Whitecaps to leave them without a loss in five games. The goals were just two of eight shots on target by Vancouver.

The Crew caused enough problems at the other end, forcing David Ousted to deny at least four solid chances as the visitors chased what would have been their second win of the season. Instead, Mattocks’ goal had them holding off the Whitecaps for much of the second half. Thought the Whitecaps dominated possession, they truly entered cruise control around the 64th minute. That’s when Manneh, just minutes after entering the game, beat his man and turned inside to find Mattocks about 10 yards away from goal. His near-post finish went underneath Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark to tie the game.

Shortly afterwards, Mattocks almost won it for the Whitecaps. He was there to finish off another team move in the box, only to find the outside of the right corner. Clark later had to dive to his right to prevent another Mattocks shot from going inside the near post.

The Crew’s strategy looked more like a smash-and-grab effort, and it proved successful on a number of occasions. Before the opening goal, they showed intent when Justin Meram gathered a low cross by touching it around three Whitecaps defenders and firing a shot just wide of the far post.

Kamara then created the first goal for himself. His low cross was deflected back out by Kendall Watson, but the ball rolled nicely for Kamara to apply a powerful near-post finish in the 24th minute.

The Whitecaps responded through a familiar name this season. Rivero latched onto a quick throw-in inside the box and slid to shoot the bouncing ball inside the left post in the 31st minute.

Both sides had opportunities to take the lead before halftime, with Ousted rushing out on Ethan Finlay to deny the Crew attacker from point-blank-range. Pedro Morales then had a 20-yard bomb go inches over the bar.

Five minutes after halftime, the Crew had their second lead of the game. Ousted’s poor clearance fell right to Meram, who found Kamara unmarked in the middle of the box for a placed shot into the net.

But a rampant Whitecaps didn’t give up. If anything the goal motivated them into an extra gear, though that failed to produce the odd goal.

San Jose Earthquakes will be the next team to try and test the Whitecaps’ unbeaten run when they play on Saturday. The Crew return to the east earlier that same day against the New England Revolution.