Columbus Crew strengthened their bid for an MLS playoff spot with a 3-0 victory over D.C. United at home on Saturday. Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte recorded four saves to secure his second consecutive clean sheet, while Dylan Chambost contributed two assists in the win that marked the Crew’s fifth straight triumph and their sixth in the last seven games.

The victory improved Columbus’s record to 13-15-5, earning them 44 points and moving them up to eighth place in the 15-team Eastern Conference. After starting the month of September in last place, the Crew have surged through the standings and now sit one point ahead of Orlando City SC following Orlando’s 4-0 loss at Charlotte FC on Saturday. Columbus trails seventh-place FC Cincinnati by just two points, with each team having one match remaining in the regular season.

The Crew could secure a postseason berth as early as Sunday depending on the results of other contests. A playoff spot would be clinched if Toronto FC fails to win at Atlanta United and the New York Red Bulls fall to Nashville SC.

D.C. United, meanwhile, remain on a five-game losing streak after dropping to 7-14-12 with 33 points. The visitors struggled to respond after conceding three second-half goals.

Columbus took the lead in the 16th minute when Sean Zawadzki scored his first goal of the campaign. Anass Zaroury doubled the advantage just before halftime in the 41st minute. The final goal came in the 60th minute when D.C. United’s Kimito Nono inadvertently scored an own goal, sealing the Crew’s comprehensive win.