and the Crew still two points back -- because the Chicago Fire saw Chivas USA get a late penalty kick for a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening, and the Colorado Rapids lost to a late goal by the New England Revolution.
The first team to be eliminated from postseason contention had its fate sealed over the weekend, as the New York Red Bulls twice came back before playing to a 2-2 with Real Salt Lake. Toronto FC is also on the verge of elimination after D.C. United came back for a 4-1 victory. Houston Dynamo pulled into a tie atop the Western Conference with Chivas USA with a comprehensive 3-0 victory against FC Dallas on Sunday.
At Crew Stadium, the Galaxy had won back-to-back games for the first time all season after their midweek win, while the Crew were coming off a victory against Toronto that put an end to a seven-game winless run.
The home side got off to a dream start before the largest crowd of the season at Crew Stadium. Andy Herron took a pass in the right corner, worked his way and drove in a cross that Alejandro Moreno stuck his head in to nod home for his sixth goal on the campaign.
But the Galaxy stormed back with two goals in a four-minute span. A freekick was lofted into the area, and after bouncing around a bit, Frankie Hejduk's attempted clearance bounced off Troy Roberts and past Will Hesmer, just rolling over the line before the Crew 'keeper could stop it. It was the first professional goal for the young Galaxy defender (13).
Then in the 16th minute, Kyle Martino picked off an attempted pass out of the area by Hejduk, cutting back across the top of the box before ramming home a low shot.
The Galaxy withstood a real Crew flurry, especially over the final minutes, Cobi Jones heading a ball out of the goalmouth on a corner and Columbus striker Kei Kamara rattling the face of the crossbar.
At The Home Depot Center, it was Cuauhtemoc Blanco's first visit to face Chivas, in a small resumption of the storied Club America-Chivas rivalry. The Fire had tied three games in a row, while Chivas were unbeaten in their last eight games.
Blanco did not disappoint, and he opened the scoring in the 24th minute. Some 30 yards straight out from goal, he took a long run-up for a free kick that he won, and whipped a remarkable effort around the wall and inside the right-hand post for his fourth goal since arriving in MLS.
Yet eight minutes from the end Chivas pulled level through their own Mexican national team legend. Cuban striker Maykel Galindo was upended from behind in the area by Fire center back C.J. Brown, and Suarez converted from the spot to continue the Fire's slide and his own club's good run.
At Gillette Stadium, the Rapids were coming off two draws and two losses following a three-game winning streak -- their longest of the season -- while the Revolution had three wins and a tie in their last five games.
A dour match was sealed two minutes from the end with a bit of brilliance. Shalrie Joseph played a through ball inside Rapids defender Ugo Ihemelu that Khano Smith was able to latch onto, and after haring into the box he poked a low shot through the legs of Colorado 'keeper Bouna Coundoul for the victory.
At RFK Stadium, D.C. United were riding a 10-game unbeaten streak in league play while also coming off a huge victory against Chivas de Guadalajara in Copa Sudamericana. Toronto FC had finally put an end to their MLS-record scoreless streak, but still had gone 11 games without a win.
Yet after going nine games without a goal, it didn't take the Reds long to score another, as they stunned the overall leaders in the 14th minute. From a freekick just outside the restraining arc, Carl Robinson hooked his effort around the wall and into the upper left corner.
But United turned things around after the break, and stormed to victory with a four-goal outburst in less than 20 minutes. The first two came from long-range stunners. In the 52nd minute, Fred sent a little backheel from the left corner of the area to Marc Burch, and the young left back ripped a blistering shot that was still rising when it hit the back of the net for his first professional goal.
Then five minutes later Fred did his part. Collecting a pass on the left, he cut cross-field outside the top of the area and curled a dipping drive inside the far post for his seventh goal on the campaign.
The league's all-time scoring leader doubled the lead in the 66th minute. A slide-rule through ball from Clyde Simms split open the TFC defense, and Jaime Moreno raced in all alone into the right side of the area before slotting home a cool finish under Toronto 'keeper Kenny Stamatopoulos.
A thunderbolt finished off the scoring. Christian Gomez sent a wicked freekick over the wall from 25 yards, only to see it come back off the bar and back down the middle of the area. But Luciano Emilio caught the ball with a stunning side-volley, swiveling his left leg to rip home the rebound for his league-leading 20th goal on the season.
At Giants Stadium, Real Salt Lake were coming off a victory that put an end to a four-game winless run that followed their only back-to-back wins on the year, while the Red Bulls had won just once over their last six games.
And for the second game in a row, the Red Bulls fell behind early at home. Andy Williams bent in a long cross from the right touchline and Chris Brown got free at the back post to send a glancing, diving header into the turf and past New York 'keeper Ronald Waterreus for the 22nd-minute opener.
Four minutes after the break, the Red Bulls pulled level. A long pass was flicked on to Francis Doe, leaving him one-on-one with RSL defender Matias Mantilla outside the area. The Liberian striker cut and slashed his way to goal, finally turning Mantilla before lashing a low shot inside the far post for his second goal in as many games.
But Real pulled ahead again 15 minutes from the end. Alecko Eskandarian freed Fabian Espindola on the left flank, and after turning the corner he cut back a rolling pass for Kyle Beckerman to side-foot home for his second goal with the Utah club and third on the year.
Yet the Red Bulls followed the script, and for the second week running, got a late equalizer from Juan Pablo Angel. This time, Carey Talley tripped up Seth Stammler as the center back tried to reach the rebound of a ball bouncing in the area, and Angel converted from the penalty spot for his 17th goal of the year, setting a New York club record.
At Pizza Hut Park, Houston Dynamo were returning to action after a weekend off, with wins in their last two games, while FC Dallas had lost four games in their last six down the stretch.
The visitors had control of the match from the outset, and took the lead in first-half stoppage time. Dwayne De Rosario was able to latch onto a through ball that bounced off an FCD defender, and after dribbling into the area he rolled home an angled shot inside the far post.
Dynamo doubled their lead in the 62nd minute. Richard Mulrooney flighted in a corner kick from the right and it flew all the way to beyond the back post, where Eddie Robinson came in to turn the ball home.
Houston completed the rout and finished off the club's first victory in Frisco in the 84th minute. Brian Ching was able to wriggle free on the right and cut back into the center, before rolling a pass into Stuart Holden's path, and he calmly slotted home.
Each team ended the game a man down, after FC Dallas striker Carlos Ruiz and Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark were sent off when they were involved in a melee a minute from the end.
At Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday, the opening 45 minutes were controlled by the Wizards. Eddie Johnson was particularly dangerous, finding himself in great positions on three occasions, hitting the post once. Galaxy defender Troy Roberts also twice caused some anxious moments, one clearance hitting the post while Cannon saved a second with a terrific back-pedaling tip over the bar.
Eloy Colombano provided another let-off for the Galaxy early in the second half when he rounded Cannon, but couldn't put his shot into a wide open goal. Then the game turned around in the 57th minute when Jimmy Conrad was shown a straight red card by referee Baldomero Toledo after a harsh tackle on Peter Vagenas in midfield.
The Galaxy broke through in the 80th minute. Mike Randolph held the ball up outside the left corner of the area before picking out Gavin Glinton running across the face of goal, and he sent a glancing header inside the back post for the game-winner. The Wizards finished the game two men down when Davy Arnaud was sent off in the 82nd minute after he clattered into Vagenas in midfield.
