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Columbus Crew: Best starting XI of 2010s

By John Harbeck

COMMERCE CITY, CO - JUNE 03: Federico Higuain #10 of the Columbus Crew SC celebrates his goal with Waylon Francis #14 against the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on June 3, 2017 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
COMMERCE CITY, CO - JUNE 03: Federico Higuain #10 of the Columbus Crew SC celebrates his goal with Waylon Francis #14 against the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on June 3, 2017 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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December 06 15: Portland Timbers defender Nat Borchers (7) defends against Columbus Crew forward Kei Kamara (23) during the MLS Cup final at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Portland defeated Columbus 2-1.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire) (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
December 06 15: Portland Timbers defender Nat Borchers (7) defends against Columbus Crew forward Kei Kamara (23) during the MLS Cup final at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Portland defeated Columbus 2-1.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire) (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Striker

Kei Kamara

Kei Kamara was like a shooting star, bringing the Columbus Crew to the brink of MLS Cup glory before hurtling the club back to earth before crashing and burning everything in its path. Kamara’s 2015 season was one of the most prolific in club history as he netted 22 league goals, often leaping over the competition.

That 2015 season was a perfect combination of circumstances for Kamara as the entire system was built around providing service to the striker. Time and again, Karama was served delivery from both full-backs, Higuain and the wingers. It is no surprise that that season Columbus made MLS final and many of the attacking talent had their best seasons.

Every good thing must come to an end and boy did it for Kamara. In the next season, he got into some locker-room controversy and was shipped out almost immediately, putting a stain on his time.

Next. New York Red Bulls: Best-rated starting XI of 2019 season. dark

Columbus does have other names in consideration in Gyasi Zardes, Ola Kamara, and even Dominic Oduro. All three of these players scored in double figures and revitalized their careers, specifically Zardes who is now back in the USMNT player pool. But all of these players have their limitations and never reached quick high enough at their peak to usurp the briefly brilliantly Kamara.

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