The Crew's Steven Lenhart, left, and Jason Garey celebrate Garey's go-ahead goal in extra time. (Neal C. Lauron/Columbus Dispatch/Associated Press)

Steven Lenhart and Jason Garey scored late in the second half as Columbus rallied for a 3-2 win over Toronto FC on Saturday night that extended the Crew's home unbeaten streak to an MLS record 19 matches.

Ali Gerba did his best to try to stop Columbus from setting the mark in his first official game for Toronto. The Canadian international, who signed last month and suited up for Wednesday's friendly against Argentine powerhouse River Plate, scored four minutes into the second half to give Toronto a 2-1 lead.

But Lenhart pulled the Crew even in the 76th minute, and Garey buried a header in extra time to send Columbus to the come-from-behind victory.

"The three goals we conceded — awful goals," Toronto coach Chris Cummins said. "Ninety-two minutes… You pick up your man in the box. The lad had a free header and he put it away. I'm fuming, to be honest with you.

"I'm angry. I'm fuming. They didn't beat us. We threw the game away."

Dwayne De Rosario scored for Toronto in the 35th minute — just three minutes after Eddie Gaven opened the scoring for the Crew.

The win moves reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus (7-3-9) into first place in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of Chicago. Toronto (7-7-5) remains in fourth.

"We got rewarded," Crew coach Robert Warzycha said. "The guys played a very good game against a very good team. These three points were very important."

Toronto's Amado Guevara left in the 22nd minute with what the team called an "upper-body contusion." The attacking midfielder, who has now gone seven games without a goal or an assist, was replaced by Velez.

Columbus was without injured MLS goal-scoring leader Guillermo Barros Schelotto for the second straight week.

Gerba teams up with Barrett

The opening goal was the result of a skilful rush by the Crew's Danny O'Rourke. Moving in from the right side, the defender put on the brakes to avoid a sliding De Rosario and slipped the ball over to Gaven, whose soft shot beat keeper Stefan Frei.

The lead didn't last long. Marvell Wynne did the legwork by eluding a pair of Columbus defenders to deliver a cross, and the ball bounced to a wide-open De Rosario, who hammered it home from close range for his team-high seventh goal of the season. That equals De Rosario's total from last year, when he played for Houston.

Gerba's first goal as a member of the Reds put Toronto ahead just four minutes into the second half. Capitalizing when a Columbus defender couldn't handle a throw by keeper William Hesmer, Gerba and Chad Barrett worked a crisp give-and-go that Gerba finished with his left foot to make it 2-1.

The goal looked like it could give Toronto its first win in nine tries all-time against Columbus. But with less than 15 minutes left on the clock, Lenhart came through with a timely effort, fending off Velez to control a pass near the net before beating Frei.

With the Crew all but assured of avoiding their first home defeat since June 2008, Garey earned his side the extra two points by heading home a feed from Frankie Hejduk in the 92nd minute.

The victory allowed the Crew to secure the Trillium Cup, given to the winner of the season series between Columbus and Toronto.