Justin Meram and Emilio Renteria scored to lead the Columbus Crew to a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday night.
Meram headed a left-footed cross from Dilly Duka for his third goal in the 15th minute. Renteria sealed the win for Columbus (4-4-3) with a 30-yard chip over Seattle goalkeeper Bryan Meredith in the 76th minute for his first goal.
''Not something that I do every time,'' Renteria said through an interpreter. ''I saw the goalie up and thought I could score.''
Columbus' Duka (47) and Carlos Mendes (71) received second-half yellow cards. Seattle's Marc Burch received a yellow card in the 85th minute, and Osvaldo Alonso received one in the 88th.
The Crew came in 0-3-3 against Seattle since the Sounders entered MLS three seasons ago. Seattle even beat Columbus in the 2010 U.S. Open Cup final.
''Goals change the game,'' Crew coach Robert Warzycha said. ''They are a very good team. You have to respect what they do at home. We have new and young players that just want to stick together and prove we are a decent team.''
The Sounders (7-3-2) controlled play in the opening 20 minutes and final 10 of the first half, spending the majority of the half in Crew territory. Seattle got off 10 shots and six corner kicks in the first half, but converted none.
Alvaro Fernandez typified the Sounders' struggles in the first half just before the end of extra time. David Estrada took a lofted pass on the right of the box and sent the ball over the Crew defense to Fernandez, who headed the ball down on bounce wide of the right post.
Fernandez stood with his hands on his hips, stunned by the missed opportunity. It was the best of several chances for the Sounders in the half.
''Not happy,'' Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid said. ''I thought we gave up a soft goal in the first half. We've got to do a better job of marking at the back post and we've got to score the goal right before halftime. The opportunity that Fernandez had makes it 1-1 and that changes everything.''
Alonso had a chance from the top of the box that was shot right at Columbus goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum. Also, Sounders midfielder Brad Evans missed with a header, and defender Jeff Parke sent a header off a corner kick over the cross bar.
Columbus midfielder and captain Danny O'Rourke was carted off the field in the 44th minute after landing awkwardly.
Gruenebaum made two diving saves against Fredy Montero in the second half to preserve the shutout.
