COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Damani Ralph scored in the 90th minute to give the Chicago Fire a 2-2 tie Wednesday night with the Columbus Crew.
Ralph's spin-around shot from just inside the box was his ninth goal of the season, a record for MLS rookies. Nate Jaque set up the score with a centering pass from the right wing.
Ante Razov also scored for Chicago.
Edson Buddle and Brian West scored five minutes apart early in the second half to give the Crew a 2-1 lead. Jeff Cunningham assisted on both goals.
The Fire (8-4-6), tied for first in the Eastern Conference, are unbeaten in their last four games.
Columbus (5-9-6) has fallen to last place by going winless in its last six. The Crew have only three wins in nearly four months since opening the season 2-0-1.
Trailing 1-0 in the 47th minute, Buddle used his chest to settle a high pass from Cunningham and beat goalkeeper Zach Thornton from the penalty dot. The goal was the second in as many games for Buddle, who has missed the majority of the season with an assortment of injuries.
West, who just returned from the injured list, made it 2-1 in the 52nd minute, scoring off a breakaway pass from Cunningham.
Razov scored his 10th goal of the season for the Fire on a penalty kick in the 33rd minute after Columbus defender Mike Clark fouled DaMarcus Beasley at the edge of the box.
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