Marshall’s goal in 39th minutes leads Crew to 1-0 win over Rapids

Marshall’s goal lifts Crew past Rapids

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Chad Marshall scored in the 39th minute as the Columbus Crew posted a rare road win with a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night.

Goalkeeper William Hesmer made several key saves en route to his third shutout of the season for Eastern Conference-leading Columbus (8-3-9), which improved to 2-3-5 on the road.

The Crew notched their first road win since June 6 at Kansas City despite playing without Alejandro Moreno (groin) and reining league MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto (left hamstring). Both stars sat out the for the third consecutive game.

Colorado (7-6-6) had its three-game home winning streak snapped and fell to 5-2-3 at home.

Rapids leading scorer Conor Casey did not play after appearing in the All-Star game on Wednesday. Casey missed the team’s previous game against New York due to yellow-card accumulation.

The Crew hadn’t posed a serious threat when referee Yader Reyes awarded them a free kick 30 yards out late in the first half. Robbie Rogers nudged the ball to Marshall, who booted a shot just inside the right post for his third goal of the year.

Colorado had a couple of chances in the first half. Pat Noonan sent a header well over the crossbar in the 13th minute, and Omar Cummings broke free in the 34th minute only to get off a weak shot that Hesmer easily caught.

Hesmer denied the Rapids their best chance of the game in the 55th minute, pining to the ground Cummings’ header from just outside the crease. Ten minutes later, Cummings’ shot sailed just wide of the left post.

Story from: STATS LLC, www.stats.com.