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Barros Schelotto's penalty kick lifts Crew over Real Salt Lake

Jul 8, 2007 - 3:57 AM COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored and Will Hesmer recorded his third straight shutout as the Columbus Crew extended their unbeaten streak to six contests with a 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

Barros Schelotto blasted a penalty kick past Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando in the 76th minute to give the Crew a 1-0 advantage.

Salt Lake defender Richie Kotschau fouled Andy Herron to give Barros Schelotto the opportunity to score his second goal this season.

"I was just focused to put the ball in the back of the net," Schelotto said. "I felt that we were dominating the game up until that point and we deserved to go up 1-0, and I just wanted to step up there and make the kick."

Columbus (5-4-7) added an insurance goal in the 80th minute, when Eddie Gaven scored his second of the campaign after recieving a pass from Alejandro Moreno, who picked up his fifth assist.

"Alejandro did a great job," Gaven said. "He made a strong run up the left side, held off someone and played a perfect ball to my left foot, and I just kicked it in."

The Crew thought they had a goal in the 74th minute but were called for an offsides. That came after Moreno just missed netting a tally in the 73rd minute, when his header sailed just over the goal.

Hesmer, who has posted a 4-0-2 record since taking over for Andy Gruenebaum, needed to make just one save en route to his fourth career shutout.

"He is undefeated right now, so that's a good thing," Crew coach Sigi Schmid said of Hesmer. "He is very steady, you do not see him screaming at guys, panicking and things like that. I think that's good and gives your defense confidence."

"The guys in front of me are making it pretty easy," Hesmer said. "There is going to be a save or two a game that you need to come up with, but that is my job and that is why I am back there."

Rimando made six saves for Salt Lake (1-7-6), which has lost four of its last five games.

"Nick is playing extremely well," Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis said. "I feel badly for him that we are not getting better results because he, in particular, and a few other guys had good games tonight."