Robbie Findley from the doorstep for RSL, then Laurent Robert with a powerful header that came back off the crossbar. But it was RSL that took the lead in the 63rd minute. Chris Wingert flighted a high ball from the right flank from a cleared free kick, and defender Jamison Olave -- still forward for the set piece -- got onto the end of it to head it home for his first MLS goal.
Toronto FC seemed to have finally put an end to their road losing streak -- dating back to April -- in the 84th minute. From a foul some 25 yards straight out from goal, Amado Guevara whipped the resulting free kick over the wall and into the top left corner for his third goal on the campaign.
But just three minutes later, RSL regained the lead. Kyle Beckerman's fierce drive from the left was parried by TFC 'keeper Greg Sutton, but Findley was quickest to the rebound, sending a sliding shot that deflected off a defender and into the back of the net.
At RFK Stadium, three days after the clubs met in the SuperLiga group stage, D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo were supposed to meet in a match rescheduled from June 4, abandoned after 16 minutes were played because of heavy rain. But the game was postponed yet another day, after a power outage in Washington, D.C.
Brian Mullan gave the Dynamo the lead with a 20th-minute goal, taking a pass from Geoff Cameron in the area, cutting back to his left and ripping a curling blast into the far upper corner.
The game was then stopped yet again, in the 54th minute, because of lightning and another power outage. After nearly three hours, it was finally completed, with Brian Ching heading home a free kick in the 79th minute to provide the final scoreline.
At Pizza Hut Park, FC Dallas had played to three consecutive draws and had just one win since May 24 -- a span of eight games -- while the Los Angeles Galaxy hadn't won in five games, playing to ties in their last two.
The teams had last met on May 18, a 5-1 Galaxy win in Frisco, ironically Steve Morrow's last game in charge of the Hoops. It didn't take long for Kenny Cooper to show that game was in the minds of the FCD players, with two goals in three minutes.
First, in the 15th minute, he cut across the top of the area from the right before lashing a low drive that took a slight deflection before sailing inside the near post. Then in the 17th minute, he dispossessed a defender before playing a one-two with Dominic Oduro, side-footing home a terrific strike from outside the area for his 11th goal on the campaign, one off the league lead.
Oduro made the lead 3-0 in the 36th minute. Arturo Alvarez split the Galaxy defense with a pass from the center circle and Oduro raced in alone on goal, rounding Galaxy 'keeper Steve Cronin in the box before tucking home the ball from a tight angle. Abe Thompson completed the rout in the 89th minute, curling home a wonderful long-range strike into the upper right corner.
At Dick's Sporting Goods Park, the Crew had been scoring goals in bunches, but had two wins and three draws for their last six games. The Rapids had won just once in their last seven games, but with a win and two ties in their last three.
The Crew took the lead in the 21st minute. Stefani Miglioranzi found Steven Lenhart in the right side of the area, and the rookie lashed home a shot for his third goal on the campaign.
But Lenhart, making his first MLS start, soon had it ended abruptly -- sent off in the 42nd minute after throwing an elbow at Colorado defender Facundo Erpen in the Rapids penalty area.
The Rapids outshot Columbus 23-5 on the night, putting seven shots on target and holding a 17-0 advantage in corner kicks. But while Will Hesmer held firm at the defensive end, making a series of remarkable saves, the Crew put the game away in the 75th minute. A Hesmer goal kick was headed on by Brad Evans, and Jason Garey held off Erpen before flicking the ball over Rapids goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul for his first goal since last September.
At CommunityAmerica Ballpark, the Fire had rebounded from a three-game losing streak with a win and three draws in their last four matches, while the Wizards were unbeaten in six games following a six-game winless run.
The two goalkeepers were the heroes on the night, both Chicago's Jon Busch and Kevin Hartman of Kansas City getting their seventh clean sheet on the season, each moving into a tie for the league lead.
Busch made a key save late in the first half, pushing a Roger Espinoza shot onto the crossbar before it flew away to safety. Hartman made a vital stop late as Patrick Nyarko nearly snatched the full three points with a quick snapshot that Hartman was able to block.
At Buck Shaw Stadium, both teams came into the match looking for the three points, each sitting at the foot of their respective conferences. The Red Bulls had just one win in their last seven league matches, while the Earthquakes were riding a seven-game winless run of their own.
Both goals came in the opening quarter-hour. Just four minutes into the match, Dave van den Bergh sent in a cross from the left flank and San Jose defender Eric Denton, trying to deal with it, instead looped a header over goalkeeper Joe Cannon to hand the visitors the lead.
But in their first home match in nearly a month, and first in Santa Clara in nearly two, it didn't take the Quakes long to level the match. In the 13th minute, Scott Sealy hit a shot on the turn that Red Bulls 'keeper Jon Conway could only push away, and Darren Huckerby swept in to tap home the rebound for his first goal since coming to MLS.
