Columbus Crew shrugged off the setback with Dallas by beating Philadelphia Union 2-1 at PPL Park to get their MLS Cup bid back on track.

Last week's 3-0 home defeat to the Texas outfit brought an end to a four-match unbeaten streak - three wins, one draw - which saw Columbus make a beeline into the top four of the Eastern Conference.

However, Gregg Berhalter's side looked determined to get that result out of their system as they stunned the hosts with a quick-fire double today.

First, Kei Kamara headed home after Harrison Afful's cross was flicked into his path by opposition defender Steven Vitoria, before the striker completed his brace on 26 minutes by sliding home Afful's teasing ball.

Steve Clark tipped away Tranquillo Barnetta's long-distance drive on the half-hour mark to give the visiting goalkeeper a taste of what would come his way after the break.

Clark was called into action again before the hour mark, denying CJ Sapong's header before palming Justin Meram's near-post drive against the post as the Crew hung on.

The hosts continued to exert pressure and it eventually paid off when Sapong tapped home Sebastien Le Toux's cross from close range on 66 minutes to throw the Union a lifeline.

Reducing the deficit served to reinvigorate Philadelphia, who looked certain to equalise 12 minutes later, but Clark reproduced his heroics by tipping Le Toux's effort against the crossbar.

It proved as close as they came to drawing level as Columbus dug deep to earn the hard-fought three points.