Frisco, TX (Sports Network) - The Columbus Crew took over first place in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference table with a 2-1 win over FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park on Saturday.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto tallied his league-leading 15th and 16th assists on first-half goals by Alejandro Moreno and Eddie Gaven to lead the visitors to their MLS-high 12th victory of the season.

FC Dallas scored the game's first goal 10 minutes before the first-half break when striker Jeff Cunningham took control of a pass from Bruno Guarda at the top of the Crew penalty area, took a touch around two defenders, and fired a shot past Will Hesmer for his second goal since coming to the Hoops from Toronto FC.

Less than two minutes later the Crew were able to equalize on a corner kick, however.

Schelotto served the ball to the top of the 18-yard box from the right corner to Chad Marshall, who headed the ball toward Dario Sala in the Hoops' net. But Moreno deflected the shot with his head past the Argentine goalkeeper for his eighth goal of the season.

Three minutes later Gaven scored the game-winner - his first goal of the season - after a great individual effort from Schelotto. The Argentine veteran controlled the ball on the left side near the endline, cut back to create space, and crossed to a wide-open Gaven at the back post. Gaven made no mistake on the chance, easily heading the feed home to make it 2-1.

That was how the score would stay as the Crew defense - led by Hesmer, Marshall, Frankie Hejduk, Gino Padula and Andy Iro - closed the door in the second half.

The Crew (12-6-4) will aim to extend their Eastern lead when they host second- place New England next Saturday while FCD (6-8-8) will try to rebound when it hosts Kansas City on Thursday.