Roberts, Martino lift Galaxy over Crew, 2-1

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Troy Roberts and Kyle Martino scored in the first half and the Galaxy beat the Columbus Crew, 2-1, Sunday.

The Galaxy (7-13-6) overcame a goal in the second minute by Alejandro Moreno and improved its chances of making the MLS Cup playoffs despite a stretch of eight losses in nine games in August and September.

“We’re on a bit of a run now, which has come a little bit late, but we still have a good chance,” Coach Frank Yallop said.

The Crew (7-10-10) is in the midst of a collapse in which it has won once in nine games.

Andy Herron ran the ball into the right corner of the field and sent a well-placed crossing pass to the edge of the six-yard box that Moreno headed past goalkeeper Joe Cannon to put the Crew on the scoreboard 100 seconds into the match.

The Galaxy tied it, 1-1, when defender Frankie Hejduk failed to clear the ball from inside the six-yard box, allowing Roberts to poke a slow, rolling shot past Will Hesmer in the 13th minute.

Three minutes later, Martino got space to take a pass from Landon Donovan and sent a shot through the legs of Ezra Hendrickson and into the goal.

Martino, who played four seasons with the Crew, celebrated his third goal of the year by holding a finger to his lips to silence the sellout crowd.