Eddie Gaven and Andy Iro scored first-half goals Thursday night to lead the undefeated Columbus Crew over the New York Red Bulls 3-1.
Columbus (5-0-2) played without top scorer Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who was suspended for swinging an elbow in Monday's 1-0 win over Chivas USA. Defenseman Chad Marshall and midfielder Robbie Rogers were attending the national team camp in hopes of making the World Cup roster.
The Red Bulls (5-4-0) lost their third straight game and second consecutive home match to fall two points behind Columbus in the Eastern Conference.
Gaven and Iro were the key to a dramatic momentum shift that started in the 35th minute, when Gaven headed in his second goal of the season off a pass from Frankie Hejduk. The shot beat goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul, who has started each of the Red Bulls' games.
Three minutes later, Iro out-leaped a cluster of three Red Bulls defenders that included Mike Petke, who appeared in his 300th Major League Soccer game, and steered in his second goal of the season. The goal slipped past Coundoul's open left side.
The Red Bulls, who have scored only two first-half goals this year, had out-hustled and out-worked Columbus in the first part of the half and had a 7-5 advantage in total shots.
Juan Pablo Angel had his only shot pushed over the crossbar by Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer, and another chance in close was broken up by defender Eric Brunner. Midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic's shot in the 37th minute bounded off the left post.
New York finally got on the board in the 81st minute when substitute Tony Tchani put in his first career MLS goal. But forward Emilio Renteria got that back for the Crew a minute later when he stole a pass to defender Tim Ream and scored unassisted.
