In the end, a 3-2 victory in New England wasn't enough to keep the Columbus Crew's playoff hopes alive.
Columbus needed to win at Gillette Stadium and D.C. United to claim all three points against the Chicago Fire in Washington, D.C. to keep the Crew's faint playoff hopes alive.
"There's a dark cloud over our heads," Crew captain Frankie Hejduk said. "That's how it's felt like for us all season. It was a shame we couldn't get some help."
Tonight proved just another frustration in a long end of the season for the Crew, as the team did its best to extend its season for one more week. Instead comes the stark reality the Black & Gold will miss the postseason for a third consecutive year.
"We had to treat the game like it's a cup final," Hejduk said.
Much of the inspiration came from halftime substitute Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The Argentinean sparked his side to life after a moribund first half that saw New England claim a 1-0 lead prior the halftime interval.
"We thought he could give us a better push off the bench," Crew head coach Sigi Schmid. "We felt his fitness wouldn't hold up from the start."
But it certainly held up during the second stanza as the Crew erupted for three goals, a mark it had only reached once before on the season.
"I was pleased with the way we played," Schmid said.
If not for 'keeper Will Hesmer, the revival might have fallen by the wayside. Hesmer bobbled a tame shot out for a corner to set up Taylor Twellman's first goal, but made amends when he pushed Twellman's 57th-minute volley onto the crossbar.
"He's in tight, and I just got our there and tried to get enough of it," Hesmer said. "It felt like the momentum swung for us."
Eddie Gaven tapped home after Robbie Rogers rang the post four minutes later to cement the push. And Stefani Miglioranzi volleyed home 13 minutes from time from a Gaven cross to give the Crew the lead. Steve Ralston fired home six minutes later to set up the grandstand finish.
Barros Schelotto had the last laugh with a near-post volley to give the Crew the points it needed, but the team received no help from United and saw its playoff hopes vanish.
The win gave the Crew the victory in the season series against New England, a fact that Schmid cited as proof his team could compete with the best teams in the league.
With the playoffs out of the picture, Schmid pointed to the game as a positive sign as the Crew looks to build for next season.
"We have the nucleus," Schmid said. "We can build around it."
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
