Major League Soccer's top goal scorer, Kei Kamara, propelled Columbus Crew to a 2-1 win over DC United and top spot in the MLS Eastern Conference.

Kamara added to Ethan Finlay's 27th-minute opener in the second half as Crew trumped D.C. United despite a consolation penalty late in the match.

Back-to-back wins lifted Columbus to 47 points from 30 rounds and the East summit, two points clear of D.C. and New York Red Bulls, who have three games in hand.

New England Revolution - one point behind Crew - missed the chance to go top after crashing to a 3-0 defeat at Didier Drogba's Montreal Impact.

Visiting Crew stormed out of the blocks at RFK Stadium in the U.S. capital, Tony Tchani rattling the crossbar from close range in the second minute.

D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid was forced into fine saves by Tchani and Kamara in quick succession, while at the other end, Steve Clark pushed Alvaro Saborio's free kick over the bar.

Columbus eventually opened the scoring approaching the half-hour mark, when Finlay outmuscled two defenders on the turn and fired the ball beyond Hamid.

Kamara doubled Crew's advantage four minutes into the second half with his 21st goal of the season, sprinting past defender Steve Birnbaum and tucking the ball underneath Hamid.

Chris Rolfe gave D.C. some hope with a 67th-minute spot kick after Chris Klute was penalised for a hand ball, but Columbus held on for three points.

Revolution's winning streak and quest for top spot was halted by Impact, which posted a comprehensive 3-0 win and held firm in the sixth and final playoff spot in the East in Montreal.

New England came into the match on a six-game winning streak - unbeaten in eight games overall - but former Chelsea star Drogba scored a goal and set up another as Impact prevailed with 10 men.

Drogba, Johan Venegas and Dilly Duka found the back of the net, but teammate Marco Donadel saw red for a second bookable offence with 18 minutes remaining.

Impact (36) is a point clear of Orlando City in the East after the expansion franchise edged cellar-dwelling Chicago Fire 1-0.

New York City is a point further back after almost surrendering a three-goal lead as the club overcame playoff-chasing Western Conference outfit San Jose 3-2.

Italy international Sebastian Giovinco bagged a brace to lead Toronto FC to a 3-1 win at home to lowly Colorado Rapids.

Seattle Sounders extended its unbeaten streak to four matches courtesy of a 3-0 win against the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps.

Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake's playoff hopes received a boost after downing LA Galaxy 3-0.