No one has created more goals in Major League Soccer this season than Ethan Finlay (Marshfield).
Finlay set up Federico Higuain's 66th-minute equalizer as host Columbus Crew SC tied the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-1 on Saturday night at Crew Stadium. (Watch below)
It was his eighth assist in 15 appearances this season, one more than Sporting Kansas City's Benny Feilhaber and tops in MLS. Finlay had seven assists in 63 career appearances coming into this year, all of them coming last season.
With the Crew down 1-0 in the weather-delayed match, Finlay raced past left back Robbie Rogers to get onto a through ball from Tony Tchani on the right side. Galaxy center back Leonardo tried to tackle the ball away, but it popped right up to Finlay, who found Higuain coming through the middle of the box for the finish.
Finlay also helped Columbus advance to the fifth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, scoring what proved to be the game-winner in Wednesday night's 3-1 away victory over the Richmond Kickers from the third-division USL.
Playing up top in a new-look 3-5-2 formation – he normally is a wide midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 setup – Finlay snapped a 1-1 tie in the 42nd minute. Hector Jimenez played in a cross from the right side that Kickers goalkeeper Ryan Taylor couldn't hold, and Finlay pounced on the loose ball and finished for his third goal of the year.
In Thursday's fifth-round draw, the Crew were handed another road match, this one at fellow MLS club Orlando City on June 30.
On Twitter: @EthanFinlay13