CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Dema Kovalenko had a pair of goals as the Chicago Fire moved into a first-place tie in the Central Division with a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Crew.

Diego Gutierrez assisted on Kovalenko's goals as the Fire (10-8-3) won for the first time in four games and pulled even with idle Tampa Bay.

Kovalenko has scored eight goals in 20 games to break into the league's top 10. Top striker Ante Razov broke out of a scoring slump with an insurance goal in the 66th minute, his 12th of the season.

Kovalenko's second goal came in the 37th minute. Gutierrez played the ball through midfield to Chris Armas, who beat a pair of defenders before finding Kovalenko at the top of the box. After a pair of cutback moves, Kovalenko ripped a shot from the 18-yard line into the lower left-hand corner, making it 2-0.

Columbus (7-10-4) halved the deficit in the 59th minute. The Crew lost possession in their offensive end after a corner kick but defender Mike Clark won a loose ball in the box and whipped a pass to the six-yard box to an open Dante Washington. The veteran striker one-timed a shot past Fire goalkeeper Zach Thornton.

Minutes after Clark created a goal, the Crew captain gave one back. In the 66th minute, Razov stole the ball directly from Clark in the box and dribbled around Crew goalkeeper Mark Dougherty to tap in his first regulation goal since May 24.

Chicago broke through in the 20th minute off a well-played corner kick by Gutierrez. He floated it toward to the top of the 18-yard line, where Jesse Marsch quickly flicked the ball to the back post. Kovalenko was left unmarked and easily headed in his seventh goal of the season.

Chicago's victory did not come without a price. Gutierrez, who leads the Fire with 12 assists, left at halftime with the effects of a concussion. Fellow midfielder Peter Nowak left in the 19th minute with a bruised left leg.

Columbus was without standout forward Brian McBride, who still is several weeks from returning after suffering a broken cheekbone.