Columbus midfielder Eddie Gaven set up a penalty, assisted on a goal and made two saves to help the Crew beat Philadelphia 3-1 in their regular season finale on Sunday.
Gaven took over for goalkeeper William Hesmer in the 86th minute after Hesmer had to leave the match after a collision with Union (8-15-7) defender Danny Califf.
The goalie broke his right shoulder on the play and will be out for the playoffs. Andy Gruenebaum will take over when the Crew play Colorado this week.
''The first thing you think of is you hope he's okay because we're in competition together but he's also a good friend,'' Gruenebaum said. ''You don't want to see one of your friends get hurt. You don't want to win the job like that.''
The Crew had already used its three substitutes so Gaven was forced to play the goal.
The Union's Sebastien Le Toux made it 3-1 in the 87th minute with a strike from 20 yards that went through Gaven's gloves.
Gaven thought he could have done better on the goal that left the season-high crowd of 19,006 in Crew Stadium squirming at the thought of a Philadelphia comeback.
''He hit a great shot,'' Gaven said. ''I still feel like I could have tipped it off the crossbar at least. I think I dove after the ball was already in the net. I'm going to have to go back and look at that it on film.''
Gaven drew a penalty that Guillermo Barros Schelotto converted in the 15th minute then fed Emilio Renteria to make it 2-0 in the 42nd minute. Andres Mendoza added a third goal in the 79th.
