THE COLUMBUS CREW came from behind in extra time to defeat the Montreal Impact, 3-1, on Sunday and advance to the Eastern Conference finals by a 4-3 aggregate score. Montreal began the contest with a 2-1 lead after a home win last weekend, but two Kei Kamara goals helped lift the Ohioans, who will now face the New York Red Bulls.

COLUMBUS SPREAD ITS WINGS

The Crew started out the busier of the two sides and made the visiting Impact pay early. Federico Higuaín marshalled the attack from his high central position and distributed to the flanks, where fullbacks Harrison Afful and Waylon Francis delivered dangerous crosses.

It only took four minutes for the pressure to pay off. Higuaín found Francis in space and Kamara the defender's cross home for the opener.

Eight minutes later Kamara was teed up from the opposite wing and nearly doubled Columbus' lead, only to be denied by the crossbar.

The flank-centric play didn't work throughout the match—the Crew relied too heavily on Kamara in the attack—but the strategy paid off when it counted. 

MONTREAL TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE LULL

Ten minutes before the break Montreal took control of the match and placed the Columbus goal under siege. Dilly Duka took advantage of a poorly defended corner to drive in the equalizer and put the Impact up 3-2 on aggregate. Duka appeared to be in an offside position on the play, but the goal was allowed.

The Impact dominated much of the second half, mostly on the counterattack. Montreal's talismanic striker, Didier Drogba, seemed ineffective in the first half but burst to life after the break. He nearly scored on a 51st-minute free kick and then attempted yet another audacious back-heel that failed to beat Columbus goalkeeper Steve Clark.

At the 67-minute mark Crew midfielder Ethan Finlay was pulled down by Laurent Ciman in the penalty area, drawing a penalty. Kamara insisted on taking the shot instead of Higuaín, Columbus' desigated penalty taker, and the dreadlocked striker delivered a weak attempt that Montreal keeper Evan Bush pushed aside.

CREW SAVED BY ITS BENCH

Perhaps taking the hint from the botched penalty, Crew coach Gregg Berhalter made several substitutions to reinvigoarate his side. Off came Justin Meram and the injured Tony Tchani; on came Jack McInerney and Cedrick Mabwati. Both subs brought creativity to the flanks—especially Mabwati.

The Congolese international delivered the 77th-minute ball that Finlay pushed past Bush to level the aggregate score and send the match into extra time. (Big questions should be asked of the linesman, because Finlay also looked offside in the buildup to the goal.)

Late in extra time Mabwati again showed his value with a cross to the back post that Kamara nodded into the back of the net—his 11th headed goal of the year and the biggest of his MLS career.

Columbus will next face the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, hosting on Nov. 22 and travelling to Harrison, N.J. on Nov. 29. 

What did you think of the two controversial calls? Who do you see advancing from the East? Share your take below.