COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Jeff Cunningham became the fourth player in MLS history to reach 100 goals when he scored in his first game for FC Dallas, but midfielders Brian Carroll and Brad Evans netted second-half goals to give the Columbus Crew a 2-1 win Saturday.

Cunningham's 35th-minute tally was his first for Dallas since being acquired from Toronto FC Aug. 8. It also was his first goal against the team for which he played eight seasons.

Cunningham scored 62 times as a member of the Crew from 1998-2004, and has scored at least once against every team in MLS.

"Sometimes people say the stars are aligned and things are meant to be," Cunningham said. "I just felt like it was definite for me to get it here. This is where it all started. I have a special place in my heart for Columbus, it doesn't matter what club I'm with."

But Cunningham and Dallas had little time to savor the accomplishment, as the visitors allowed two goals in three minutes in the second half to spoil a 265-minute shutout streak.

Carroll sent a bouncing shot past diving Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala to tie it in the 62nd minute. Evan's headed a crossing pass from Guillermo Barros Schelotto past Sala three minutes later to give Columbus lead.

Evans nearly extended the Crew's lead in the 78th minute, but his blistering shot from 12 yards pinged off the right goalpost.

Dallas striker Kenny Cooper just missed stealing a tie for Dallas when he bounced a 24-yard free kick off the crossbar in second-half stoppage time.

"It was definitely a tale of two halves," Columbus coach Sigi Schmid said. "The first half was not good. ... (But) the character of the team is great. They listened to what we had to say at halftime. We came out in the second half with a lot more energy."

The win moved Columbus (10-6-4) into first place in the Eastern Conference past the Chicago Fire and the New England Revolution, both of which were scheduled to play later Saturday night.

Dallas (6-7-7) remained in third place in the Western Conference.

Dallas appeared determined to build on the success of its previous game, a morale-boosting road win over Toronto on Aug. 3. Dallas outshot Columbus 12-5 in the first half and nearly scored three times before Cunningham's landmark goal.

Cooper just missed scoring in the 15th minute on a low, hard shot that beat Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer.

One minute later, Cooper stole the ball from defender Danny O'Rourke and sent a curling crossing pass inside the penalty area that Cunningham headed toward an open goalmouth, but the Crew's Chad Marshall intervened to knock the ball back into play just as it seemed to break the goal line.

Cunningham later would beat Marshall for his goal, sliding past the Crew defender to put away a rolling pass from Adrian Serioux.

"I thought we had an outstanding first half," Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman said. "I almost thought we were the home team there for a while. (We were) unfortunate we did not score more than one goal."

Crew striker Alejandro Moreno drew a free kick for Columbus inches outside the penalty area when he was brought down by Aaron Pitchkolan in the 28th minute. Referee Ricardo Salazar carded Dallas captain Drew Moor for arguing the call.

Salazar also booked Dallas defender Blake Wagner for a hard challenge in the 50th minute, and Carroll for a reckless tackle in the 56th minute.