Colorado Rapids secured a vital 2-0 win over Columbus Crew at the Columbus Crew Stadium to strengthen their place in the MLS Western Conference.
The hosts could have been ahead in the sixth minute when Jairo Arrieta raced onto a through-ball and lobbed it over the on-rushing Clinton Irwin, but his shot landed on the wrong side of the post.
Colorado took the lead in the ninth minute when Atiba Harris laid the ball back to Edson Buddle inside the six-yard box and he made no mistake in firing his effort into the bottom corner.
The home side nearly equalised within a minute but Dominic Oduro's header went just over the bar from Tyson Wahl's cross with Irwin beaten. Minutes later Arrieta did well to find space in the area but his shot went wide of the target.
After the break, Arrieta was presented with another golden chance to get his side level after being played behind the Rapids defence, but he couldn't direct his left-footed shot on target.
Dillon Powers made Columbus rue their missed chances when he doubled his side's lead firing a shot past Andy Gruenebaum, which took a deflection on its way into the net and sealed the win for the Rapids.
Simon Sinclair
