Jason Garey kept Columbus' MLS Cup playoff hopes alive with a late goal Saturday night that gave the Crew a 1-1 tie with the Houston Dynamo.
Garey's third goal of the season came in the 80th minute and offset Toronto native Dwayne De Rosario's tally 26 minutes earlier.
Crew captain Duncan Oughton sent a looping cross into the Dynamo penalty area, where Garey headed the ball from nine yards in front of the net, angling it past Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad, a Vancouver native.
De Rosario's left-footed strike from 25 yards bounced along the pitch and seemed to go unseen by Crew keeper Bill Gaudette until the ball reached the six-yard box, giving Gaudette little chance at stopping De Rosario's 11th goal of the season.
The Crew must win its final three games, two of which are on the road, and hope for losses from the Kansas City Wizards and the New York Red Bulls to have a shot at post-season play.
Houston remains in second place in the MLS Western Conference pending the result of Chivas USA's game against the Colorado Rapids late Saturday.
Crew striker Ricardo Virtuoso was shown a yellow card by referee Terry Vaughn for rough play in the 18th minute.
