but stormed back for a 3-2 victory, in so doing becoming the first team this season to concede the opening goal and come back to win. The Fire kept the pressure on the Crew for the overall and Eastern Conference lead, defeating D.C. United 2-0 on MLS Primetime Thursday.
The New England Revolution and New York Red Bulls also maintained contact with the top two, each going on the road to Western Conference opponents and coming away with the full three points. Both wins came at The Home Depot Center: the Red Bulls defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 on Saturday night, and the Revolution defeating Chivas USA by the same score the following afternoon.
The defending champion Houston Dynamo won for the first time on the season, getting a late penalty kick to defeat the Western Conference-leading Colorado Rapids 2-1 at home. The Rapids remain tied atop the division with FC Dallas, who saw their winless streak lengthened in a 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake.
At Buck Shaw Stadium, the Crew came into the game with four consecutive victories, longest streak in the league this year, while the Earthquakes were aiming for their first home victory on the season and second overall.
The Earthquakes had scored just two goals in five games in their return to Major League Soccer, but took the lead two minutes before halftime. Ronnie O'Brien swung in a corner from the left and Ramiro Corrales dove to flash a header into the roof of the net.
But the Crew blew the game open with three goals in an 11-minute span -- all scored in nearly identical fashion. Substitute Emmanuel Ekpo split the Quakes' defense with a terrific pass, finding Robbie Rogers streaking down the left. Two days short of celebrating his 21st birthday, Rogers lashed a low shot inside the far post for the 73rd-minute equalizer.
But Rogers wasn't done yet. Alejandro Moreno played a ball in behind the Earthquakes back line and Rogers again latched onto it and strolled in alone on goal, rounding Joe Cannon before sliding the ball home for his fifth goal on the campaign (81).
Then two minutes later, the Crew doubled their lead. This time Guillermo Barros Schelotto played provider, sliding a ball for Brad Evans to burst through the heart of the San Jose back four, and Evans hammered the ball high into the goal for his first professional goal.
The Earthquakes pulled a goal back a minute from the end, also from a corner as Ryan Johnson powered home a header from a Ned Grabavoy service that took a deflection off Columbus defender Frankie Hejduk, but it wasn't enough to overcome to Crew onslaught.
At RFK Stadium, the Fire came into the nation's capital with two wins in a row and four in their last five games. D.C. United were still trying to find their way after a loss at Colorado the week before, their third loss in four outings as they sat at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table.
After weathering some early threats, the Fire took the lead in the 38th minute. Chris Rolfe swung in a high cross from the right, Chad Barrett headed it down into the heart of the box and Justin Mapp swept in to curl home a shot inside the left-hand post for his first goal on the year.
The Fire then put the game away through a stroke of brilliance from Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Racing forward up the center of the park, Blanco let fly from some 25 yards out from goal, the rasping drive flying over Zach Wells and into the upper right corner of the goal, his third on the season (62).
At The Home Depot Center on Saturday, the Galaxy hadn't lost in three games, with two draws surrounding a win, while the Red Bulls had put together the exact same string of results over their last three matches.
The visitors took the lead in the 21st minute when Jozy Altidore took a flick-on, turned and fired powerfully on goal. Galaxy 'keeper Steve Cronin was able to parry the initial effort, but Danleigh Borman followed up outside the left post and knocked home the rebound for his first professional goal.
The Galaxy finally broke through after the break, getting the leveler in the 77th minute. Mike Randolph took a pass on the left and sent in a low ball to Alan Gordon in the heart of the area, who turned and drilled a shot inside Jon Conway's left-hand post for his third goal on the year.
But the Red Bulls hit for the winner almost immediately from the restart. Dane Richards went haring forward from the left, slipping the ball to Juan Pablo Angel as he cut across his path. Angel rounded Cronin in the Galaxy area and drove a rising shot high into the goal for his first goal on the season and the eventual match-winner.
At The Home Depot Center on Sunday, Chivas USA were back home trying to put an end to a four-game winless run, while the Revolution were looking to put together a string of positive results for the first time on the year, having followed a victory with a loss for the third time in their last outing.
The Revolution took the lead 18 minutes into the contest as Kenny Mansally got in behind a makeshift Chivas USA back line. Jeff Larentowicz sent a long ball over the top and Mansally ran onto it alone, firing a high shot past Brad Guzan from just inside the area for his second goal.
Taylor Twellman made his season debut for the Revolution after knee surgery, coming on as a halftime substitute, and it took him just 14 minutes to open his account for the season. Playing a quick one-two with Steve Ralston at midfield, Twellman held off a Chivas defender as he raced to gather in the return pass and ripped a low drive inside the right-hand post.
Three minutes into stoppage time Chivas pulled a goal back. Atiba Harris headed a cross back across goal and Maykel Galindo chased it down before sliding it into a packed goalmouth where Justin Braun forced it home for his first professional goal, but it wasn't enough to keep Chivas from losing for a fourth time in five games.
At Robertson Stadium, the Dynamo had played to draws in four of their last five games while still searching for a first victory on the season, while the Rapids were coming off a win against D.C. United that put an end to a two-game losing skid.
The Dynamo had their chances in the early going yet failed to hit the target, but finally broke through two minutes before the break. Stuart Holden sent in a bouncing ball behind the Colorado defense, and as goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul came off his line, he missed on his clearance attempt. Brian Ching raced past and turned the ball into the empty net for his first goal on the season.
The Rapids came back into the game and pulled level midway through the second half. A perfect through ball from Christian Gomez allowed Omar Cummings to shield off his defender, and he stroked a bounding shot past Pat Onstad inside the left-hand post for his second goal.
But with three minutes remaining, a flashpoint changed the game. A throw-in from the left bounced up and as Colorado defender Ugo Ihemelu went to chest it, the ball hit his outstretched arm. Referee Tim Weyland ruled it was a handball and pointed to the spot. Dwayne De Rosario sent Coundoul the wrong way for his first goal of the season, sealing the Dynamo's first win.
At Rice-Eccles Stadium, both teams were looking to put an end to winless runs, Real Salt Lake with two losses and a draw in their last three, and FC Dallas with a loss and tie in their last two.
RSL took advantage of a gift to open the scoring in the 28th minute. A long ball downfield was cleared by FCD goalkeeper Dario Sala -- but it bounced first off defender Drew Moor, then Andre Rocha. It fell to Javier Morales, who had only to roll it into the unguarded goal from close range.
The Hoops pulled level 11 minutes after the halftime interval. Andre Rocha sent a long ball down the right flank for Kenny Cooper. After the big striker controlled the pass and cut in toward goal, he hammered a drive that flew over Nick Rimando at the near post and off the underside of the crossbar for his fifth goal on the campaign.
But Real went back ahead in the 73rd minute. Andy Williams sent a perfectly weighted chip over the FCD back three that came down just inside the area. Kyle Beckerman had raced past the defense and poked the floating ball first-time through Dario Sala's legs for the eventual game-winner.
