even though it came on their home ground -- defeating stadium mates Chivas USA 2-0 in the second Super Clásico this season and perhaps left Chivas USA head coach Thomas Rongen facing questions about his job future.
After a tense first half, Costa Rican defender Pablo Chinchilla put the Galaxy ahead when he was left completely free to head home a Jovan Kirovski free kick from the top of the goal area (62). Peter Vagenas then finished off the match 14 minutes from the end when he pounded home a lovely feed from Kirovski, who claimed the ball and set off on a mazy run through a host of Chivas USA defenders before finding Vagenas alone just inside the area.
At RFK Stadium, Carlos Ruiz hit for two goals seven minutes apart early in the second half to keep FC Dallas atop the Western Conference.
The first goal from the Guatemalan international was top-class and an early candidate for Goal of the Year honors. Roberto Mina sent in a chip from the right that Ruiz hit with a full overhead kick, driving the ball inside Nick Rimando's left-hand post. Ruiz then doubled the advantage when he converted his own penalty after he was bundled over from behind in the heart of the box.
At Gillette Stadium, the Revolution missed the influence of two starters away on international duty as they struggled to break down a massed Rapids defense. Colorado survived playing the final 10 minutes a man down after Guy Melamed -- a product of nearby Boston College -- was sent off with a second yellow card.
At Rice-Eccles Stadium, the first-ever home loss for Real came in their first home game played on a grass field, laid for next weekend's World Cup qualifying match. Real have yet to win on the road this year.
Chris Armas -- playing his 200th league match -- got the Fire off to a dream start, driving a weak clearance back home from just inside the penalty area after just five minutes.
The Fire then finished off the match after the break. Samuel Caballero got on the end of an Armas freekick swung in from the left, nodding home from the top of the goal area (53). Then six minutes from time, rookie Chad Barrett spun away from a pair of Real defenders in the area before slotting home inside the far post.
At Arrowhead Stadium, the Wizards won their second game of the week at home by a 1-0 margin, this time against the Earthquakes, who lost for the second time on their three-game road trip.
Halftime substitute Jack Jewsbury was the hero, knocking the rebound of a saved shot for his fourth goal of the campaign. Jewsbury was set free and saw his first shot saved but then spilled by San Jose goalkeeper Pat Onstad and he picked up the rebound and rounded the 'keeper to drive it home.
At Crew Stadium, the MetroStars scored on either side of halftime before easing to a comprehensive victory against the Crew, who have now lost five of their last seven games.
Youri Djorkaeff's first goal in MLS put the MetroStars in the lead after 38 minutes, a long-range blast beating Bill Gaudette, who was making his first MLS start after first-choice Crew 'keeper Jon Busch was lost for the season to a knee injury.
Then four minutes after the break, Abbe Ibrahim neatly flicked on a long ball from Michael Bradley, and Eddie Gaven collected the pass and raced away from a Crew defender before slotting past Gaudette. Ibrahim finished off the scoring with his first MLS goal, getting on the end of a John Wolyniec chip before driving a low shot home from the heart of the area.
On Wednesday, the Wizards and Earthquakes had both won. Kansas City claimed a 1-0 victory against the MetroStars on a 48th-minute goal from Davy Arnaud, whose left-footed shot off a Sasha Victorine pass and a lovely Scott Sealy dummy hit home. San Jose won 1-0 in Colorado after Alejandro Moreno created space against newly-acquired defender Mike Petke and curled a shot inside the post.
The Galaxy and Crew played to a scoreless draw in Carson, both teams losing starters to knee injuries. Crew 'keeper Busch went off at halftime with a knee injury that will put him out for the rest of the season, while the Galaxy lost defender Chris Albright for up to the next two months.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
