Washington, D.C. (Sports Network) - Quavas Kirk scored just 24 seconds after entering as a substitute, Luciano Emilio had two assists and D.C. United rolled to a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer on Saturday night.

Joe Vide scored his first goal of the year in the 45th minute, Santino Quaranta doubled the lead in the 82nd - both off assists from Emilio - and Kirk finished the scoring in the 87th minute at RFK Stadium.

D.C. United goalie Louis Crayton, who was playing his third MLS game, made four saves for his second shutout and the team's third of the season.

United (10-10-1), which improved to 8-3 at home, moved within six points of co- leaders Columbus and New England in the Eastern Conference.

Colorado (7-10-3), which hasn't won in D.C. since the 1999 season, had its two- game road unbeaten streak snapped in interim coach Gary Smith's debut. Ex-coach Fernando Clavijo stepped down earlier this week for personal reasons.

At the end of a sluggish first half for both clubs, D.C. grabbed the lead when Ivan Guerrero and leading scorer Emilio set up Vide's goal.

Guerrero found Emilio a few steps inside the penalty area and Emilio, with his back to the goal, held onto the ball long enough to draw two Rapids defenders. Emilio then made a pass to the top of the box to Vide, who drilled a shot into the upper-right corner.

Crayton made his best save of the match minutes after Vide's goal, leaping to deflect a Nick LaBrocca header over the crossbar with just seconds remaining in the half.

Emilio had the first good chance in the second half, breaking free on the right side of the area to unleash a hard shot. Emilio's blast had Colorado goalkeeper Preston Burpo fooled, but the ball smashed off Burpo's face and deflected wide.

Burpo's nose was bloodied by the close-range shot, but he continued in the game after being attended to by a trainer.

Emilio, who leads the team with 11 goals after scoring 20 last year to win MLS Most Valuable Player, set up D.C.'s next goal in the 82nd minute with a perfect cross-field pass to Quaranta.

Quaranta made one small touch outside the penalty area and then hit a shot from just inside the box into the left side past a diving Burpo.

Kirk capped the scoring in the 87th - which was also when he entered the match. Kirk ran onto the field and, after Bryan Namoff's shot was deflected by Burpo, placed the rebound into the net from a few yards out.

D.C. improved to 8-3-1 in its last 12 games, but needed the win after dropping three of its last five. D.C. will try to move closer to the top on Aug. 30 when it hosts Red Bull New York.

Colorado will try to bounce back Friday when it visits Real Salt Lake.