COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Mamadou Diallo scored three goals, increasing his MLS leading goal total to 26, as the Tampa Bay Mutiny beat the Columbus Crew 4-3 Wednesday.

	Mike Lapper of the Crew, left, tries to block Eric Quill's shot.

Diallo scored in the 19th, 52rd and 81st minutes. With two matches remaining, Diallo is just two goals away from surpassing Roy Lassiter's league record of 27 set in 1996.

"It's important for me to win the scoring title because I want people to recognize me," Diallo said. The Senegalese forward enhanced his image by winning MVP honors at last month's All-Star Game. He scored two goals and added an assist in a six-minute span.

Diallo's 26th goal, the game-winner, came after he beat defender Todd Yeagley to a pass from Eric Quill and deflected the ball past goalkeeper Mark Dougherty to put the Mutiny up 4-3.

Kevin Anderson tied it 3-3 for the Mutiny. He stole the ball from Crew midfielder Matt Chulis in the 57th minute and threaded a 20-yard shot just inside the far post.

Three minutes earlier, Anderson assisted on Diallo's second goal along with Carlos Valderrama, whose assist added to his MLS record of 25 this season.

Columbus' Miles Joseph scored twice in the first half off assists by Robert Warzycha and John Wilmar Perez. Perez added a goal in the 51st minute to put the Crew up 3-1.

The Mutiny (16-11-3) scored three unanswered goals to beat the Crew for the seventh straight time in the regular season. The loss diminished Columbus' playoff hopes.

"It was a pretty disappointing loss, especially being up 3-1," Crew coach Tom Fitzgerald said. "This puts our backs against the wall. We have to win all three of our remaining games."

Columbus played without forward Brian McBride and defender Ansil Elcock, who were preparing for World Cup qualifying matches.

Tampa Bay, which already had clinched a playoff berth, has 51 points and is in first place in the Central Division. Columbus (11-13-5) has 38 points and is in fourth place in the Central Division.

Columbus, Dallas, New England, Colorado and Miami are fighting for the last three playoff spots.