If that was it, it was a colorful sendoff.

It’s no secret that Crew SC’s 2-0 win over D.C. United might have been midfielder Federico Higuain’s final regular-season home game with the Crew. In August, the 32-year-old told The Dispatch this season could be his last with the Crew, that it was the “finish of the cycle” after five-plus seasons with the club.

A few weeks later, he said he wanted to enjoy the remainder of the season with the Crew and ride the team’s hot streak, but admitted “the other part of this situation is not easy.”

A lot can happen between now and any potential parting of ways between Higuain and the Crew this winter, but just in case, he was given a gift Saturday. Higuain was stunned when he looked in the direction of the Nordecke at kickoff and saw Crew supporters bouncing a large tifo featuring his image.

The banner, which stretched from the front of the Nordecke to at least a couple dozen rows back, included a black and white image of Higuain’s face, with a blue jersey, a black and gold background and a blue header with Higuain’s nickname — Pipa — written in purple.

A week in #TIFOSWEAT: Concept on Monday, sewing/tracing Tuesday, painting Friday, deployment Saturday.



Three points. Playoffs. #CrewSC pic.twitter.com/fM7TY6ZYVs

— Morgan Hughes (@Morgan_Hughes) October 1, 2017

“First of all, I want to give thanks to all the fans of Columbus Crew. It was a moment that was very beautiful,” Higuain said through a team interpreter. “Just like myself and the rest of my family, we are very appreciative for all the love and support (I) received from the first day that I got here. Every day that I come to the club, I’ve been trying to do my very best that I possibly can and I’m going to continue to give everything I’ve got.”

Higuain said he was completely surprised by the banner but made sure to take a few seconds at kickoff to appreciate it.

“I’m not sure if I deserve something like that from the fans, but I want to take this moment to thank them for that and for taking the time to do that,” he said.

Higuain took a corner kick in front of the Nordecke in the 14th minute and found the head of Josh Williams, who scored for the second time in two weeks to put the Crew ahead 1-0. With the win, the Crew extended its unbeaten streak to eight for the first time since 2010, improved its record to 15-12-5 and clinched a playoff spot for the third time in four seasons. Higuain now has nine goals and 11 assists on the season.

pic.twitter.com/7M15mXJxXR

— Miriam Matteson (@mirmatt) October 1, 2017

It was a fairly subdued Crew locker room post game. With two games left and the Chicago Fire two points ahead in the standings, there’s still quite a bit to play for.

“We’d like to finish up a little higher in the playoff table and have a good playoff season,” Higuain said. “I think that’s the objective of every club.”

It’s also a primary objective for Higuain, who hopes to make a successful run in what could be his third and final playoffs with the Crew.

“I have no words to explain that moment and how big my feelings were watching that huge banner. I want to say thank you to everyone,” Higuain said. “Every morning that I get up to go to training I try to do my best and I know that I try to do my best. The love that I have for this club and for this city is reciprocal.”

Home record

With the win, Crew SC finished its regular-season home slate 12-3-2, setting a club record for home wins. Coach Gregg Berhalter said taking ownership of home performances was an emphasis after a 2016 season in which the Crew went 6-3-8 at home and often dropped points late in games.

“I’m proud of the guys. I think that’s a good accomplishment with how many years the Crew’s been here and to have that record is special for the guys and I think to show that we want to keep pushing,” Berhalter said. “We met an objective. We set a goal in the beginning of the season to be an elite home team. I think our record stands for itself and now we want to keep pushing because we know home field in the playoffs is big.”

He said it

“I told Ola (Kamara)I’m coming for him. No, same thing man. I just run to a spot and Pipa (Higuain) and Pedro (Santos) put it there, so it takes a second of courage to stick your head in there and actually on this one I was pretty open so it wasn’t nearly the same. Just tried to get good contact on it.”

—Center back Josh Williams, after scoring for the second time in two weeks. Before this stretch, he went more than four years between goals.

aerickson@dispatch.com

@AEricksonCD