COMMERCE CITY — Even as their misery deepened and frustration mounted, Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo and his players insisted they had the talent to make a playoff run and that going roughly 2 1/2 months without a victory was not in any way indicative of the talent on the club's roster.

Finally, the Rapids are getting results that back up their unwavering bravado.

Jovan Kirovski scored two goals, including one on a penalty kick, as the Rapids posted a 3-0 win against the Eastern Conference-leading New England Revolution on Thursday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

Colorado has won consecutive games against conference leaders, after Saturday's victory against then-Western Conference-leading Houston, to emphatically vanquish a 10-game winless streak.

Suddenly that dry spell can be translated to show the Rapids have collected nine points in seven games while climbing to within two points of Major League Soccer's final playoff spot going into this weekend's full slate of matches.

"We always had the attitude, we always had the mentality, that we could turn things around," Clavijo said.

"The only thing you can do as a team is keep working, believe in what you're doing and believe in yourself, and the results will come."

After recording a win against Houston and its league-leading defense, the Rapids held New England's top-scoring offense to one shot on goal while scoring multiple goals for only the fourth time in 21 MLS matches.

It was the first time this season the Rapids have scored three goals in an MLS match.

On a night when the depth the Rapids have been patiently building paid dividends, Kirovski's first goal, while officially unassisted, was fashioned from a gritty all-around effort in the 10th minute, beginning with Terry Cooke's centering pass to Colin Clark's header that kept the play alive to Conor Casey's point- blank chance that left Kirovski with a rebound opportunity against an open net.

Kirovski became the first Rapids player this season to score two goals in a game on a penalty kick in the 41st minute and narrowly missed a hat trick when his shot deflected off the right post late in the 63rd minute.

Omar Cummings came off the bench to complete the scoring with his first MLS goal in the 76th minute.

"The team played really well from the first minute to the end," Kirovski said. "We have good players on this team and we're not afraid of anybody. The last two games we've played the best two teams in the league, and we outplayed them both."

The Rapids (6-9-6) played without two regular starters serving one game suspensions — forward Herculez Gomez (yellow card accumulation) and defender Ugo Ihemelu, who was issued a red card against Houston.

Midway through the first half, the Rapids also lost starting defender Dan Gargan, who left the stadium on a stretcher after suffering a right knee injury, leading to the Rapids debut of former national team defender Tony Sanneh.

Sanneh was acquired in a trade with Chicago on Wednesday.

Gargan's status will be re-evaluated today, but the Rapids will welcome back Gomez and Ihemelu as they prepare for their next match at home Aug. 26 against David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy.

"The team is coming together, but it's two games," Clavijo said after the game. "We need to keep fighting."

Rapids 3, Revolution 0

New England......0	0	-	0
Colorado......2	1	-	3

Goals — Col, Kirovski (unassisted), 10; Col, Kirovski (unassisted), pk, 41; Col, Cummings (Clark), 76. Shots on goal — NE, 0-1-1; Col, 3-4-7. Saves — NE (Reis 4); Col (Coundoul 1). A — 10,677.

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