Photo by Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports

By JOE TANSEY

CHESTER, PA — What a difference a week, and a full squad, makes.

A week after failing to convert on any of their 32 crosses, the Columbus Crew used two balls sent in from the right wing to create their goals in a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park.

Harrison Afful and Kei Kamara, who were two of nine Crew players out on international duty last weekend, played vital roles in the two goals.

Kamara headed home his first goal of the match, and 19th of the season, in the 21st minute. Afful sent in a cross from the right wing that deflected off the noggin of Richie Marquez and onto the head of Kamara.

Five minutes later, Kamara added to his successful night with a goal from the same spot on the pitch. The Sierra Leone international duplicated his back-post run, but he used his feet this time to knock home Afful’s rolling cross from the right wing. With the second goal, Kamara became just the 16th player in MLS history to reach that milestone.

Steve Clark made sure the Union would not steal any momentum back from the Crew in the 29th minute, when he made a leaping denial on a Tranquillo Barnetta shot from 25 yards out.

Afful and Kamara almost connected for a third Crew goal in the 39th minute, but Kamara could not get his headed attempt on target.

The two goals marked the sixth time this season Kamara has bagged a pair of strikes in a game. He last scored twice in a match on Aug. 8 against Colorado. He also has three goals against the Union in 2015.

The second half did not witness a fast start as neither side tested the opposing goalkeeper for the first 15 minutes.

When Philadelphia inserted Conor Casey and Michael Lahoud into the match in the 59th minute, the match started to have more life.

Within two minutes of entering the match, Casey put a shot on goal from a set piece. The forward rose above the defense and nodded a Barnetta free kick straight at Clark.

As the momentum continued to build on their side, the Union started to create more chances. Clark was forced into action in the 64th minute, as he tipped Barnetta’s shot over the goal.

Philadelphia finally put a tally on the scoreboard in the 66th minute as Sebastien Le Toux bodied Tony Tchani in the box and fed C.J. Sapong in the middle of the penalty area for the forward’s first goal since July 26 against D.C. United.

Columbus created a few chances in the minutes following the Union goal, but only one seriously tested goalkeeper John McCarthy. In the 75th minute, Federico Higuain fired from a pocket of space in the middle of the pitch but was stopped by a diving McCarthy.

Le Toux threatened down the right wing in the 79th minute, but Clark was able to touch the Frenchman’s shot onto the bar before Michael Parkhurst cleared the ball of the line.

Philadelphia threw the kitchen sink at Columbus in the final 10 minutes with all three of its target forwards on the pitch, but Sapong, Casey and Fernando Aristeguieta could not combine for a second strike.

Columbus will be back in action next Saturday in D.C., while the Union host Houston the following night at PPL Park.