CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — Chris Pontius had a goal and an assist and the Philadelphia Union beat the Crew 3-2 on Wednesday night to extend their Eastern Conference lead.
Philadelphia (6-3-5) is unbeaten in its last eight games — with three wins and five draws — to tie a franchise mark.
Pontius tied it at 1 in the 21st minute. He trapped a long cross, took four touches along the 18-yard box and scored through traffic. In the second half, Pontius connected with Vincent Nogueira in the 57th for a 2-1 lead. Pontius’ cross went over a crowd in front of goal and Nogueira’s shot from distance deflected into the back of the net.
Fabian Herbers scored his first MLS goal in the 84th for a 3-1 lead. Ilsinho played a through ball on a fast break and Herbers cut back his defender to curl it inside the far post.
Columbus (3-5-5) got on the board in the 14th minute on Ola Kamara’s fourth goal in seven career MLS games. Cristian Martinez made it 3-2 in the 93rd minute by heading in Ethan Finlay’s cross.
The Crew SC host the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the fourth round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the OSU campus June 15 (7:00 p.m.)