MLS

• Crew put stranglehold on Supporters' Shield with win at N.E.

  
  

  Foxborough, MA (Sports Network) - The Columbus Crew put a stranglehold on the Supporters' Shield, given to the top team in the Major League Soccer's regular season, with a 1-0 victory at New England on Saturday night.

  Chad Marshall scored the game's only goal, his fourth of the season, while also playing shut-down defense from his center back position to lead the Crew to their franchise-record 15th win of the season.

  It was the third straight game in which the Crew were forced to play without their best player, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, because of a hamstring injury, and it was the third straight game the team has earned a favorable result.

  With the loss, the Revolution fall eight points back of the league and Eastern table leaders with just four games to go, dealing a crushing blow to their Supporters' Shield hopes.

  Marshall scored the game's goal 10 minutes before the first-half break on a corner kick, the first corner kick goal given up by New England this season. The 6-4 centerback skied at the back post to head a Robbie Rogers corner kick past Rev 'keeper Matt Reis for the winner.

  The Revs best chance of the game came in the 53rd minute when Shalrie Joseph sprung Kenny Mansally behind the defense with a through-ball. The young forward couldn't convert, however, as Hesmer came out and forced him to take another touch, allowing defender Frankie Hejduk time to recover and end the chance.

  New England was given a golden opportunity to take control of the game in the 65th minute when Hejduk was ejected with his second yellow card, forcing the visitors to play the final 25 minutes down a man, but the Revs were unable to capitalize.

  The shutout is Columbus goalkeeper Will Hesmer's eighth of the season. He made two saves to force the Revs into their sixth goose-egg of the season.

  Columbus (15-6-5) is back in action next Saturday when it hosts the Los Angeles Galaxy while New England (12-8-6) hosts Real Salt Lake the same day in its next league fixture.

  09/27 22:31:11 ET