Edson Buddle and Dillon Powers scored 61 minutes apart on Colorado's only two shots and the Rapids beat the Columbus Crew 2-0 on Saturday night for their second straight win.
Buddle, who scored 42 goals for the Crew from 2001-05, took a pass from Atiba Harris and, after several touches to create space, shot from close range for his second goal of the season in the 8th minute.
The play was set up by a cross from Danny Mwanga that found Harris in front of the goal.
''I tried to put myself in a dangerous spot and I saw Atiba post up before he got the ball,'' Buddle said. ''If he was able to trap it properly or lay it off, I wanted to be there. It popped right to me. I got a good touch and put it in the back of the net.
Colorado (4-4-3) assured its first win in eight tries in Columbus since 2005 when Powers' strike from long range deflected off Crew (3-4-3) defender Josh Williams after a free kick in the 69th minute.
Clint Irwin preserved his fourth shutout with a save on Glauber's header in the 80th minute as Colorado was outshot 22-4. Irwin finished with seven saves.
Many of the Crew's shots were from long distance although Jairo Arrieta had a chip from inside the penalty area 25 seconds into the match that bounced left off the post.
''We wanted to keep our team compact,'' Colorado coach Oscar Pareja said. ''We wanted to force them to play the long ball.''
The Crew lost its second straight and fell to 1-2-2 at home.
''When we created chances the final touch wasn't there,'' Columbus coach Robert Warzycha said. ''We're playing good enough to win.''
