EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Brian McBride scored in the 84th minute to give the Columbus Crew a 1-0 victory over New York-New Jersey on Saturday night in Major League Soccer.

McBride scored the only goal in a match that was played in constant rain when he touched a cross from Brian West past MetroStars goalkeeper Mike Ammann from close range.

Robert Warzycha started play with a pass from the midfield to West, who was racing down the right wing. West crossed into the box, where he outmuscled a MetroStars defender and slipped a shot between Ammann and the near post.

The MetroStars had the best scoring chance in the first half. Mark Chung's shot from the left side was saved by Columbus goalkeeper Mark Dougherty, but squirted off his fingertips to Miles Joseph. Joseph's shot from the top of the box went to defender Michael Clark, who chested the ball down and cleared it.

The Crew's best chance came in the 36th minute when Warzycha's blast from 25 yards out sailed just over the bar after it deflected off a MetroStars defender.

Both teams had chances in the second half, but failed to tally.

A low shot by the MetroStars' Petter Villegas in the 56th minute veered just left of the post, and a long free kick by Lothar Matthaus in the 78th minute was stopped by Dougherty.

Meanwhile, Columbus saw Ansil Elcock's header off a corner in the 49th minute go just wide right, and Warzycha's hard shot from outside the box stopped by Ammann in the 61st minute.

The Crew improved to 2-2-1, while the MetroStars dropped to 1-3-0.