Not capitalizing on those chances would force RSL to sweat a rather nerve-wracking half hour in the second half.

Columbus was unlucky not to equalize in the 50th minute when Guillermo Barros Schelotto corralled a poor clearance at the top of the box and cracked it off the left post. The Crew continued to be the aggressor and were nearly rewarded again when Chad Marshall came crashing into the box on a corner kick, heading it just wide in the 77th minute.

Less than 60 seconds later, Columbus' hopes of salvaging a tie were dashed as Kenny Deuchar and Findley, neither of whom started, teamed up for the critical second goal. Deuchar laid the ball off for Findley, who chased it down in the box and made a simple touch around the keeper before drilling it into the vacant net.

RSL will try and win back-to-back games for the first time this season when it visits Chicago next weekend.

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com