COLUMBUS, Ohio - Felipe Gutierrez scored early in the second half Sunday and Tim Melia made four saves to give Sporting Kansas City its first road win of the season, 1-0 against the Columbus Crew.
Gutierrez was just a couple steps off the goal line unmarked for the easy header on a short cross from Gerso Fernandes. Fermandes made a great effort on the end line to keep the ball in play, slipped it through defender Botond Barath's legs and put the ball on Gutierrez's head.
It was the seventh goal for Gutierrez and enough to give Melia his second shutout of the season. It is also the second clean sheet for Sporting KC (4-5-7), a squad that had 13 shutouts last season.
The Crew (5-9-2) lost more than the game. Just 15 minutes in David Accam left with a hamstring injury and in the 74th minute Harrison Afful was given a straight red card when he pulled down Fernandes from behind on a breakaway.