Kei Kamara scored in the 85th minute to secure Columbus Crew SC's 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls in the first leg of the teams' MLS Eastern Conference final.

Justin Meram got Columbus on the scoreboard just 10 seconds into the match from a long ball following the kickoff. Kamara flicked the pass on to Ethan Finley who found Meram in the center of the box. The midfielder calmly volleyed home past Red Bulls' goalkeeper Luis Robles.

The game's fast start continued as Sacha Kljestan's right-footed shot from close range was blocked by Crew SC keeper Steve Clark.

Kamara went close in the 10th minute, forcing a Robles save after a nice crossing pass from Finley.

Dax McCarty nearly chipped Clark in the 24th minute, but the Crew goalkeeper managed to tip the ball over the crossbar.

The Crew continued to look lively in the opening 45 minutes, with Federico Higuain orchestrating the attack and Kamara regularly testing Robles.

Higuain took a Finley pass in the 32nd minute and, with a clear view of the goal, fired right at Robles from 18 yards. 

Finley had an excellent chance to double the hosts' lead, but New York's Felipe Martins made an excellent defensive play in his own penalty area to thwart a two-versus-one opportunity.

The Red Bulls' best chance of the first half came in the 35th minute when Sacha Kljestan found Bradley Wright-Phillips at the top of the Columbus penalty area, only for the No. 99's shot to curl wide of the left post.

Kei Kamara Crew SC

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Robles made an incredible diving save in the 43rd minute, after Meram found space outside the New York penalty area. The No. 9's well-hit shot to the far post was tipped wide by the Red Bulls' keeper.

The Crew picked up right where they left off in the second half, generating more quality chances right away. Kei Kamara found Harrison Afful on the right wing, but the defender's right-footed shot skipped wide of the far post.

New York's first chance of the second 45 minutes came when Wright-Phillips teed up Kljestan at the top of the penalty area, but the ensuing effort went skying over the crossbar.

Wright-Phillips found Kljestan again in the 60th minute, but his first-time shot from the six-yard box went into the side netting.

Robles was once again called into action minutes later when Finley blazed a shot from 20 yards that the New York keeper tipped wide.

In the final 20 minutes, the Columbus defenders were the stars of the match as they kept New York's chances to a minimum and played the ball out of the back effectively.

Kamara finally put the game away when the ball fell to his feet in front of the goal after a superb individual effort from substitute Cedric.

Columbus will travel to Harrison, New Jersey, on Nov. 29 for the second leg of the Eastern Conference finals.