The Crew were able to penetrate the five-man Colorado midfield to create numerous opportunities to get a penalty kick and two assists from Guillermo Barros Schelotto and goals from defender Chad Marshall and midfielder Brad Evans.
"We're happy we got the shutout. That was important to us. We scored two good goals on set pieces but they were set up because people were getting behind their defense. It's one of those things we really tried to concentrate on this week in practice," Schmid said. "We tried to concentrate on our spacing and getting behind the defense and by getting behind the defense it caused them to foul us and those fouls set up the set pieces."
The Crew took a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute thanks once again to the crossing ability of Schelotto. Schelotto drew a foul from defender Robbie Russell 25 yards to the left of goal. From the free kick, he sent an arcing ball to the far post aimed at the 6-4 Marshall, who got behind Kenny Deuchar and headed it past goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
"We practice this because we know Chad is very good with head balls," Schelotto said.
Marshall has a career-high three goals after scoring four in the previous four seasons.
"I know he's looking for me in the box," Marshall said. "He served a great ball. I saw it was going to the far post so I faked inside and went back. It was perfect ball. It was a pretty easy finish."
Schelotto netted his fifth goal after Eddie Gaven got free in the right side of the box, cut back and was taken down by defender Nat Borchers. From the spot, Schelotto laced a shot from the spot to the lower right corner, giving Rimando no chance to make a save. Schelotto is 4-for-4 penalties this season.
"The secret is to be relaxed when you take the ball," said Schelotto.
The match was in contrast to the 2-0 loss Real Salt Lake administered on the artificial turf of Rice-Eccles Stadium on July 12.
"When we were at Salt Lake they threw everything they had at us from the get-go. I guess it's our turn to throw everything we had at them from the get-go," Evans said. "We turned them around early and had a few chances to finish them. The last time it was different on turf, no excuses. This time we knew what we had to do: Keep the ball, spray it out wide and keep it to zero and finish our chances. We did that."
It was Schelotto again in the 55th minute with a leading pass down the right flank to Gaven. After several dribbles, Gaven sent a cross to the penalty spot for Evans who netted with a crisp header for his fourth goal of the year and second in as many games. The assist was the MLS-best 14th for Schelotto.
"The third goal was as well played a goal as you could get," Schmid said. "It was a ball from Guillermo to Eddie but Eddie made a run to get behind. Eddie's cross was right in the box. That's the way you draw it up on the board."
Goalkeeper Will Hesmer got his fifth shutout and didn't have to make a save until stopping Andy Williams in the 71st minute. Hesmer also made a diving stop to his right by Russell in the 76th.
"After the 3-0 lead, I took Guillermo out because he took a knock on his ankle," Schmid said. "He always wants to play 90 minutes but I felt there was an opportunity for another whack they way they were playing and then we dropped off a little too much. We defended too much, we gave them too much space. We made Hesmer earn the shutout."
The Crew's second consecutive win -- and largest margin since a 3-0 win at Kansas City on June 14 -- moves them into a first-place tie with New England in the East Conference and the overall standings.
"We're playing better. We believe in ourselves," said Schmid. "Our spacing in the first half was really good. We were aggressive. If we continue to play that way, that's good but it was set up because of good defending. They didn't get the opportunity to play a lot of balls over the top and when they did Danny O'Rourke and Chad Marshall were up to the challenge."
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