COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Eddie Gaven scored in the 79th minute to lift the Columbus Crew to a 1 -0 victory over the Portland Timbers on Saturday night.
Columbus (8-6-7) moved into a tie with Philadelphia for first place in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of third-place New York. Portland (6-10-3) remained eighth in the West.
The winning play, originally credited as an own goal goal by Portland defender Mamadou Danso, began with a cross from the left flank by Robbie Rogers into the box to Chad Marshall, who headed the ball to Tommy Heinemann for a shot that hit the left post past diving goalkeeper Troy Perkins.
He and teammate Emilio Renteria were there for the rebound and Gaven was able to get a foot on the ball. It was almost all the way across the line when Danso chested it into the side netting.