Real Salt Lake fired two goals in three minutes to continue their unbeaten run, but they couldn’t completely hold down Ola Kamara and the Columbus Crew.
The Crew benefited from two Kamara goals in a 2-2 draw on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium. The point continues RSL’s unbeaten run to four games while the Crew bounced back from a midweek defeat to the Philadelphia Union.
Kamara fired his first of the day just 15 minutes into the match. Following a cross in, Connor Maloney darted onto the loose ball and centered another pass towards Kamara. The Crew forward finished first-time, giving the visitors the 1-0 lead.
RSL fired the next two in quick succession, opening the second half with a bang. The first goal came from the spot as Joao Plata buried his penalty kick following a handball from Josh Williams. Three minutes later, Jefferson Savarino darted through the defense and slotted a shot past Zach Steffen to temporarily give RSL the lead at home.
That lead lasted just seven minutes before Kamara popped up with his 11th goal of the season. The Norwegian forward’s finish was a simple one after he rounded Nick Rimando, leaving an open net and a second goal in the 2-2 draw.
Both teams certainly had their chances to seal the win, though. The Crew thumped the crossbar twice in the second half while RSL hit the post on either side in the second 45 as well.
The Crew continue their three-game road swing next weekend with a visit to the San Jose Earthquakes while Real Salt Lake continues a three-game homestand against the Houston Dynamo.
MAN OF THE MATCH
There’s little doubt that Kamara was the Man of the Match as he fired his 10th and 11th goals of the MLS campaign.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Just seven minutes after his side gave up the second of a quickfire pair of goals, Kamara fired his second of the day to seal the draw.
MATCH TO FORGET
Josh Williams was unlucky with to concede a handball penalty but he was also one of several Crew defenders wildly out of position on RSL’s second goal.