Crew earn three big points in KC

Columbus moves into tie for third in East with shutout win

Pat Noonan (top) and the Crew earned a season sweep over the Wizards.  (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The shutout was the first of the year for the Crew and moved Columbus (3-2-7) into a tie for third with Kansas City (4-5-4) in the Eastern Conference. The result also earned the Crew a season sweep over the Wizards and means Columbus is unbeaten in its last eight games (3-0-5).

Just into the 14th minute, Crew forward Schelotto scored his first goal on a soft unassisted goal on a misplay by three Wizards.

Defenders Aaron Hohlbein and Jimmy Conrad converged on a service that no one in blue could corral. Instead of securing possession, the pair became entangled. Their mass then fell into goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, who had come high in the area also in an attempt to take the ball. The three could only watch as Schelotto scored his seventh goal of the year, volleying the ball into the empty goal.

His league-leading eighth goal came in the 64th minute on a penalty kick in front of the Wizards goal. Schelotto smashed a shot to Hartman's left, forcing the ball past the goalkeeper, who had gone right, into the back of the net.

The PK came after Wizards defender Matt Besler was assessed a foul by referee Baldomero Toledo on a play against Crew midfielder Eddie Gaven just inside the right corner of the box.

Offensively, the Wizards tried, but, even a man up for most of the second half, had no answer offensively. Not even nine second-half corner kicks could help get Kansas City back in the game.

The first corner kick for either club came in the 50th minute for the Crew. After the ball was headed out, and with each team battling for possession, the Wizards suddenly found themselves with a large advantage.

On the ensuing scrum in the 51st minute, Columbus defender Chad Marshall was ejected for taking his knee to Hohlbein's groin. The extra player did little to help the Wizards however, as Columbus settled defensively, allowing just two shots on goal in the second half -- three for the game.

A corner kick for the Wizards in the 68th minute resulted in an immediate second opportunity as the ball was headed out of bounds behind the Crew goal. The second chance was turned away just as rapidly as the first, this one to midfield, leaving the Wizards still in search of a goal.

Kansas City's best scoring chance came in the 73rd minute. From 10 yards, Jack Jewsbury drilled an attempt toward the left front post. Only a tremendous stretch save by goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum preserved the shutout.

Forward Davy Arnaud again tried to get the Wizards on the board with an attempt in the 73rd minute that sailed wide left.

Two more K.C. corner opportunities came in the 78th minute, the second of which nearly resulted in a goal. Reserve midfielder Abe Thompson tried to push a header into the goal, but was high with his attempt.

In the 79th minute, forward Josh Wolff drilled an attempt from about 20 yards, just to have it deflect off the crossbar -- a perfect illustration of how close it seemed Kansas City was throughout the game, but never able to convert.

Curtis Kitchen is a contributor to MLSnet.com

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