Columbus Crew clinch fourth straight MLS playoff spot

It took a miraculous late push and help from the results of two Nov. 1 games, but the Crew has clinched an MLS Playoffs spot for the fourth straight year. More: Columbus Crew can clinch playoff spot after downing D.C. United 3-0 After cruiD.C. United 3-0 on Oct. 31 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, the Crew (13-15-5) got exactly what they needed a day later with losses by both Toronto FC in Atlanta and Red Bull New York in Nashville, where the home team overcame a 2-0 first-half deficit to win 3-2 on a goal in added time. Columbus was last in the Eastern Conference on Sept. 1 and had just 12 games left in the regular season. The Crew has since gone 8-3-0 while winning five MLS games in a row and seven of their last eight to move into eighth place, one ahead of the final playoff spot. They'll get a week for rest and recovery before finishing the regular season Nov. 7 in Chicago with the ability to further rest key players for the playoffs. The Crew's magical finish makes general manager Issa Tall look wise for undertaking a challenging midseason overhaul to replace stalwarts Diego Rossi, Max Arfsten and Daniel Gazdag with an impressive haul of talent led by Brais Mendez, Santiago Rodriguez and Anass Zaroury. After answering whether they could make it into the playoff field, the next question facing the Crew is how far they can go? Dispatch   Blue Jackets/Crew reporter Brian Hedger  can be reached at  bhedger@dispatch.com