Not even Guillermo Barros Schelotto was enough to keep the Columbus Crew's playoff hopes alive for another week.
But the Argentinean wizard did all he could after entering at halftime, sparking his side to life in the second half and scoring the game-winner in the 86th minute as the Crew knocked off the New England Revolution 3-2 at Gillette Stadium.
Taylor Twellman nodded the home side in front after 26 minutes from a Steve Ralston corner kick. Eddie Gaven equalized in the 61st minute before Stefani Miglioranzi put Columbus ahead in the 77th minute. Steve Ralston equalized in the 83rd minute before Barros Schelotto volleyed home the winner four minutes from time.
However, with the Chicago Fire's scoreless draw at RFK Stadium, the Crew cannot qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs. The best Columbus can do is 37 points on the season, assuming a victory at D.C. United next weekend, but the Fire and Kansas City Wizards have already amassed that total and hold the tiebreakers in case of a deadlock.
Crew head coach Sigi Schmid named Schelotto on the bench after he played the last seven minutes in last Saturday's 3-1 loss to FC Dallas at Crew Stadium after missing three games to injury. Duncan Oughton missed out because he's away on international duty with New Zealand, allowing Danny O'Rourke to take his spot in midfield.
New England kept the faith with the same starting XI that fell 2-1 in Chicago, leaving Andy Dorman on the bench and preferring Wells Thompson on the right and Steve Ralston in the center.
Ralston nearly opened the scoring on 14 minutes after Ezra Hendrickson knocked down a Pat Noonan cross to the edge of the penalty area. Ralston smacked his low, skimming shot just wide of the left post.
The Crew's Tim Ward stepped up from his right back position to fire a 25-yard free kick over the bar after James Riley knocked Andy Herron to the ground.
Ralston threatened again from a dead ball on 22 minutes, forcing Columbus goalkeeper Will Hesmer to tip his effort around the near post.
The first goal was always going to be New England's and it came from a corner kick in the 26th minute. Hesmer muffed a Wells Thompson shot over the goal line to set up the dead ball situation and Ralston's corner kick onto Twellman's head gave the Revolution striker his 15th goal on the campaign with a clear header.
Facing elimination from the playoff picture, Schmid brought on Barros Schelotto at halftime in place of the ineffective Herron.
Barros Schelotto's trickery livened up the Crew attack. Stefani Miglioranzi volleyed just over the bar in the 51st minute.
But New England nearly sealed it six minutes later. Noonan headed a ball across the face of goal for Twellman to volley, but Hesmer deflected the thunderous effort onto the crossbar and over the goal.
Hesmer's intervention proved helpful as Columbus leveled the score in the 61st minute. Barros Schelotto, at the heart of the Columbus attack since his interjection into the contest, held the ball on the top of the penalty area and played a short pass to Robbie Rogers. Rogers dinged the near post with his effort, leaving Gaven to tap home into the open net.
The goal set off a firestorm in the final half-hour that saw Columbus attempt to keep its faint playoff hopes alive.
Columbus struck again to take the lead as Gaven saved the ball along the end line and looped a cross to the far side. Miglioranzi thundered home a volley with the side of his foot past Reis to give the Crew the lead.
Ralston leveled after playing a one-two with Shalrie Joseph set him free inside the penalty area, with Ralston thumping his shot low to the far post past Hesmer.
But Barros Schelotto sealed victory for his team four minutes from time after Miglioranzi fed him from midfield and he cut inside past Ralston before lashing past Reis.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
