The defeat followed a 1-0 loss to Seattle that ended the Crew's record 22-game home unbeaten streak. It prompted coach Robert Warzycha to question the motivations of his team, which had already clinched the Supporters' Shield and home-field advantage in the playoffs.

"Today, we found out if we're not going to play as hard as we are capable, then the game is going to slip away," Warzycha said. "We have a week before our (playoff) game. We have to find the shots that are going to go into the goal."

New England (11-10-9) needed a win or tie to secure a spot in the postseason. Jeff Larentowicz put the Revolution into the playoffs when he scored his first goal of the season on a 20-yard free kick.

The Crew (13-7-10) suffered its third shutout loss in the past four games. It has scored one goal this month, a fluke free kick by Gino Padula.

The loss to New England made the postgame celebration of a second consecutive Supporters' Shield trophy far less raucous than it could have been.

"It's not the momentum we want to take into the playoffs," midfielder Adam Moffat said. "It's hard to celebrate when you lose the game. But in the bigger picture, we've been the best team all season. (Today), we'll realize that's good."

Had the Crew won, it would have played Colorado, winless in its final seven games, in the first round.

It will instead be paired against Real Salt Lake (11-12-7) and will play the first game of a two-game, total-goal series in Rio Tinto Stadium. According to the stadium's Web site, the game will be played at 6 p.m. Saturday.

New England was awarded a free kick in the 78th minute when a shot by Larentowicz took a point-blank deflection off the wrist of Brian Carroll.

"I asked the ref what I'm supposed to do about that," Carroll said. "I'm not trying to grab the ball and stop it."

Larentowicz sent a rocket through the edge of the Crew wall, and it flew past Kenny Schoeni before the goalkeeper could get his hands up to stop it.

"He hit it clean. He hit it hard. I was a little slow to react," said Schoeni, who made his MLS debut in place of starter William Hesmer (flu).

Despite an 0-2-5 start to its MLS Cup title defense, the Crew ended its season in front of 16,797 as it did last year: atop the Eastern Conference and with the No. 1 overall playoff seed.

As the Crew has done often in a season congested with Champions League and national-team games, it used a lineup mixed with regulars and reserves.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto started consecutive games for the first time since July, but the Crew is far from top form as it enters the postseason.

Danny O'Rourke (knee tendinitis) was absent from the lineup for a second consecutive game. The Crew's other top defender, Chad Marshall, will enter a playoff game at high altitude having not played since Sept. 13.

The Crew's five forwards have scored two goals in the run of play in the past two months.

"Over a long season, we were the best team in the league," Warzycha said. "Until we lose against somebody in the playoffs, we're still going to be the best."

smitchell@dispatch.com