Frisco, TX – The Columbus Crew inched closer to a playoff spot on Sunday after a convincing 4-2 victory over FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium.
The Crew entered Sunday's contest with 38 points, four behind the Philadelphia Union for the fifth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference following a 3-0 rout of Chicago last week.
And it was the road team that came out on the front foot as the Crew snagged the early lead nine minutes in through a goal from Federico Higuain, and eight minutes later the traveling side doubled its lead when Jairo Arrieta found the back of the net.
FC Dallas jumped back into the match in the 21st minute as Blas Perez netted his 11th goal of the season, but the Crew restored their two-goal margin on the stroke of halftime through a Dominic Oduro tally for a 3-1 lead at the break.
Needing an exceptional second-half performance to keep their fading playoff chances alive, FCD pulled to within one when Mauro Diaz scored in the 54th minute, but Columbus secured a vital three points with a Bernardo Anor goal four minutes from time.
The result pulls Columbus to within one point of Philadelphia with three matches remaining, while FC Dallas remains five points off the postseason pace in the West with four matches remaining.
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