Crew shut out Revolution 3-0

COLUMBUS, Ohio --Jason Garey, Eddie Gaven and Ezra Hendrickson scored to help the Columbus Crew beat the New England Revolution 3-0 Saturday night.

Columbus recorded its fastest score of the season when Garey pounced on a rebound spilled by New England goalkeeper Matt Reis in the third minute.

Gaven doubled the Crew's lead with a carefully placed strike from nine yards in front of goal in the 39th minute.

Defender Hendrickson iced the win for Columbus in the 82nd minute, taking advantage of pinball-like play inside the Revolution penalty area to fire a left-footed strike past Reis from 13 yards.

Garey's goal, his second of the season, followed a long run and blazing shot from midfielder Ricardo Virtuoso. The Brazilian Virtuoso was denied a goal by Reis, but Reis was unable to handle the shot and the ball fell to Garey who finished from eight yards.

Gaven's 39th minute goal came nine yards to the left of Reis, and was nearly identical to a Gaven shot saved by Reis a minute earlier.

Columbus players Duncan Oughton, Rusty Pierce and Gaven all were shown yellow cards by referee Jair Marrufo. New England's Joe Franchino was carded for his rough challenge against Oughton.

Despite what was, for Columbus, a scoring outburst -- the team had scored only 18 goals in 25 games prior to Saturday's match -- the Crew still face a long road to a playoff position in the Eastern Conference.

Columbus remains four points behind Kansas City, which controls the fourth and final playoff position. The Wizards visit Los Angeles later Saturday night.

New England remains in third place in the Eastern Conference, one point behind the Chicago Fire, which hosts the fifth-place New York Red Bulls Sunday.