the Crew still in the throes of a 13-game winless streak -- while Arena saw his Red Bulls tie his former club, D.C. United, in his first match back.
It looked as if the match would dwindle to a scoreless draw until eight minutes from time, when Chris Leitch launched a long ball down the right flank. Joseph Ngwenya ran onto it and carried to nearly the Red Bulls penalty area before cutting inside defender Carlos Mendes. He then shot between Mendes' legs, leaving Tony Meola flat-footed as the ball slipped inside the near post to give Columbus a first victory since June 3.
At Rice-Eccles Stadium, Real Salt Lake had won three games for the first time in club history, while Houston Dynamo had gotten back to their winning ways in their last match, a 1-0 victory against Dallas putting an end to a five-game winless run.
Jeff Cunningham provided all the scoring for Real, setting up the first two goals before the league leader took one for himself. The first came just before the break, but not without a hint of controversy. A corner kick wasn't fully cleared, and Cunningham laid the ball off to Chris Klein at the top of the area. His shot hammered off the underside of the crossbar, straight down and back out -- the goal was given although television replays indicated the ball might not have completely crossed the line.
Cunningham again played provider in the 64th minute, maintaining possession before sliding a pass to Douglas Sequeira, whose angled shot from wide on the left found the inside of the far post and nestled into the goal.
Dynamo pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute when a Brad Davis corner kick found an unmarked Adrian Serioux for a point-blank header, but Cunningham restored the margin nine minutes later with his 14th goal on the campaign, a shot from straight out that kissed off the inside of the right post, beating Pat Onstad.
At The Home Depot Center on Saturday, the Kansas City Wizards continued their weary trip after losing twice to the Chicago Fire in three days earlier in the week -- once in the U.S. Open Cup then once in league play. Chivas USA came into the game after their first victory of the campaign away from Carson, a 2-1 win in Chicago.
But it was the Wizards that took the lead late in the first half. A foul by Francisco Mendoza won a free kick outside the right corner of the Chivas penalty area, and Jose Burciaga Jr. whistled a free kick clean through and past Preston Burpo in the goal for the lead.
Yet the Wizards couldn't hold onto the lead. In the 83rd minute, rookie Jonathan Bornstein took a pass well outside the penalty area, beat a defender and slotted a low drive past a diving Bo Oshoniyi for the equalizer.
At Gillette Stadium on Saturday, the Chicago Fire came off a victory against the Kansas City Wizards that ended a five-game winless run -- all at home -- while the New England Revolution had drawn four consecutive matches.
The game's only goal came in the 28th minute, from Andy Herron. A Chris Armas through ball caught the Revolution rearguard out of sorts, and after he was kept on onside, the Costa Rican international made no mistake after going in one-on-one with Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis, taking his time to line up his shot and then curling it into the far corner.
The home side created numerous chances but found its finishing wanting as Chicago resolutely defended its advantage in the final half-hour to ensure victory.
At The Home Depot Center on Sunday, the Los Angeles Galaxy had lost for just the second time under Frank Yallop in their last match while FC Dallas saw their four-game winning streak come to an end against Houston.
But the Galaxy kept alive their hopes of an 11th postseason in 11 MLS years with two goals before the break for the victory.
They broke through in the 26th minute when Greg Vanney failed to bottle up Donovan. Galaxy defender Troy Roberts sent a long ball from the Galaxy's third to the top of the penalty area, where Donovan beat Vanney to the ball and chipped over FCD 'keeper Dario Sala.
The lead was doubled just before intermission. Santino Quaranta fired a 30-yard bomb over Sala's head and into the back of the net for his second goal in three games since joining the Galaxy. The victory was the eighth for the Galaxy in eight meetings all-time against FC Dallas in Carson.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
