Colorado Rapids 4-1 D.C. United

Published Apr. 4, 2011 8:10 a.m. ET

foxsports

Jamie Smith had the tiebreaking goal in the 71st minute, Caleb Folan scored twice and the Colorado Rapids beat short-handed D.C. United 4-1 on Sunday night.

Smith's header came right after Santino Quaranta tied it for D.C. United. Folan added an insurance goal in the 81st minute for Colorado, which also got a score from Omar Cummings, who didn't enter the game until early in the second half.

The Rapids, who won the MLS Cup last season, are 3-0 for the first time in club history.

D.C. United forward Charlie Davies, who had three goals in the first two games, was left home with a strained left groin and central defender Perry Kitchen was away with the U.S. under-20 team. The club already was depleted by injuries to midfielder Clyde Simms (strained right calf) and defender Jed Zayner (strained left hamstring).

D.C. United (1-2-0) was trailing before Quaranta got a pass from Chris Kolb and beat Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens with a low drive in the 70th minute.

The tie lasted just over a minute. Wallace passed to the box where Smith advanced a header over the hands of goalkeeper Pat Onstad.

Folan beat Onstad on a cross from Sanna Nyassi in the 81st minute. Cummings scored with a header in the 90th minute.