TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Brian West and John Wilmar Perez scored goals as the Columbus Crew beat the Tampa Bay Mutiny 2-1 on Saturday night.
Columbus snapped a seven-game regular-season losing streak against Tampa Bay.
Steve Ralston scored for the Mutiny. Carlos Valderrama had an assist and joined Ralston as the only Tampa players to reach 100 points.
West scored from 16 yards out on a shot that deflected off the crossbar, giving the Crew a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute.
Perez made it 2-0 in the 61st minute, scoring from in a scramble in front of the net.
Ralston second goal of the season pulled the Mutiny within one
in the 67th minute.
Columbus goalkeeper Tom Presthus made two strong saves -- including one on a partial breakaway -- on 2000 MLS goal-scoring
champ Mamadou Diallo in the first half.
Presthus also made a leg save on a shot by Eric Quill from close
range with 10 minutes left.
Tampa Bay's Scott Garlick lost to the Crew for the first time in
eight games.