a 2-1 win in Chicago on MLS Primetime Thursday before claiming a 2-1 win at home against Real Salt Lake on Sunday -- to move to the top of Western Conference, four points clear of the Colorado Rapids. And the Revolution maintained the league's best overall record with a 1-0 victory against Dynamo in a rematch of last year's MLS Cup Final, the fifth time in seven games Houston has been shut out this season.
Moreno moved into a tie for the all-time MLS goalscoring lead with the 108th league goal of his career as D.C. United also began to turn around their early-season woes, coming back to end Toronto FC's two-game winning streak in Canada with a 2-1 win.
Also over the weekend, the New York Red Bulls returned to their April form, routing the Columbus Crew 4-0 at home, while there were a pair of draws out West. The Rapids continued to struggle at their new Commerce City home, playing to a 1-1 draw with the Kansas City Wizards, while the second Super Clasico also ended in a deadlock as Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy played to a 1-1 draw.
At Pizza Hut Park, FC Dallas had answered back-to-back 1-0 shutouts at home with a pair of 2-1 victories on the road, but were facing their third game in eight days. Real Salt Lake were looking to claim their first win on the season in Jason Kreis' coaching debut at the place he called home for a large part of his playing career.
The home side had the early run of play and took the lead in the 26th minute through a wonderful goal. Arturo Alvarez, put into the starting lineup along with Carlos Ruiz and Dominic Oduro in a new-look strike trio, took the ball on the left and set off on a mazy dribbling run past a couple of RSL defenders and into the penalty area before lashing a left-footed blast inside the far post.
But Real regained the advantage and pulled level at the three-quarter mark of the match. Referee Jozef Batko ruled FCD defender Alex Yi pulled back Salt Lake striker Atiba Harris in the area, and Freddy Adu converted from the spot for his first goal with RSL.
Yet eight minutes from the end, an equally stunning goal gave the Hoops the victory. Chris Gbandi was picked out in space on the left and set forward to the upper corner of the area before launching a wicked drive that bounced off the inside of the angle of crossbar and far post before settling into the net. It was his first goal for nearly two years -- since July 2, 2005, the final FC Dallas goal scored at the Cotton Bowl.
At Robertson Stadium, Dynamo had allowed just four goals on the season -- but had scored just four -- with three losses and a draw in their six games. The Revolution were riding a six-game unbeaten streak after losing to Chicago to open the season, winners of two in a row.
It didn't take long for the Revolution to open the scoring. A rolling cross from the right hit the heel of a defender and rolled back away from goal, where Shalrie Joseph came storming in to hammer home a low drive from outside the box in the ninth minute.
Dynamo carried the match in the second half, but couldn't find a way past Matt Reis. The best of his four saves came midway through the half, when a Ricardo Clark close-range chip was blocked, then the Revolution 'keeper was able to acrobatically snatch the rebound effort out of midair.
While both sides downplayed any significance to last year's final, won by Dynamo on penalty kicks, the Revolution held on over the final minutes to gain at least a small measure of revenge, yet still win for the third time on the road in extending the season's longest unbeaten run.
At BMO Field, Toronto FC were riding a wave of confidence after two victories over a four-day span -- the first two in club history -- while D.C. United were back after a two-week layoff following their first win of the campaign in five outings.
Once again in front of a rabid, sellout crowd at Exhibition Place, TFC took the lead just before halftime when Alecko Eskandarian scored his first goal with his new club. And, of course, it came against his former club that he led to an MLS Cup. Maurice Edu kept a bouncing ball alive with an athletic backheel, and Eskandarian stroked home a shot from inside the area (44).
But it was a little good fortune that pulled United level. Christian Gomez whipped in a free kick from nearly straight out from goal, and as Facundo Erpen flashed across the area, his marker, Kevin Goldthwaite, tried to head clear and instead sent it past his own 'keeper for the 52nd-minute own goal.
After the goal, United head coach Tom Soehn readjusted his team's tactics and his team set up camp in the TFC end. It paid off in the 79th minute when substitute Luciano Emilio, brought on as Soehn went to a 3-5-2, was hauled down by Marvell Wynne in the area, and Moreno stepped up to take the penalty. He easily converted, sending Greg Sutton the wrong way and pulling level with Jason Kreis atop the all-time goalscorers list while also giving United a second win on the trot.
At Giants Stadium, the Red Bulls were returning to action following a two-week layoff, after seeing their three-game winning streak ended with a late blown lead for a draw then a 1-0 home defeat by Colorado. The Crew were coming off their fourth draw in six games on the season.
Missing three starters to injury and Jozy Altidore -- away at his high school prom -- John Wolyniec was given the start at forward for the Red Bulls, and quickly made his presence felt. A quick one-two on the right set Dane Richards free, and he put in a low cross to the far post where Wolyniec came in to sweep it home (17).
After the break, the Red Bulls put the game away. A throw-in from the left was flicked on, and Crew defender Marcos Gonzalez kicked it high into the air, from in front of his goalkeeper. Clint Mathis pulled away and headed the ball into the unguarded goal to double the lead in the 51st minute.
Ten minutes later, Juan Pablo Angel scored his first MLS league goal. Intercepting a Gonzalez pass across his own penalty area, Angel strolled into the area and sent a shot past Andy Gruenebaum and inside the right post.
Then in stoppage time, Red Bulls rookie Sal Caccavale completed the rout. Sinisa Ubiparipovic rounded a defender on the right and pulled a pass back for Caccavale, who found the back of the net from the corner of the goal area just four minutes after coming on in his MLS debut.
The closest the Crew came was late in the second half, after winning a free kick just on the edge of the penalty area. But Guillermo Barros Schelotto saw his effort over the wall dip just a little too late, skimming the top of the crossbar.
At Dick's Sporting Goods Park, the Rapids were returning home after winning for the second time in three road matches, though still looking for a second win in their new ground, while the Wizards had seen their three-game winning streak come to an end the weekend before in a home loss to FC Dallas.
The teams shared goals on either side of halftime in a brittle encounter. The Rapids took the lead in first-half stoppage time after a shot from a flurry of shots in quick succession in the penalty area was handled by Davy Arnaud, and Jovan Kirovski stroked home the resulting penalty.
But the Wizards tied the match almost on the hour as Arnaud made amends. Eddie Johnson again got free down the right flank and played in a cross to the far post that Arnaud hit first-time back inside the right-hand post and past Rapids 'keeper Bouna Coundoul.
The Wizards held out the rest of the way, as Colorado still has yet to win at home since their First Kick victory against D.C. United. Jimmy Conrad returned to the lineup for K.C. after suffering a broken jaw, but had to go off at halftime after he was pushed in the face by Herculez Gomez. But Gomez himself had to leave the game, apparently injured after a wild strike at a bouncing ball.
At The Home Depot Center, the Super Clasico brought together two teams trying to turn around recent fortunes, since the Galaxy's 3-1 win in their first meeting some three weeks earlier. Los Angeles was coming off a late 3-2 loss to New England, while Chivas USA returned home after getting one point from two East Coast road games.
Brad Guzan saved Chivas early after Landon Donovan got free behind the Chivas defense, and he would be called upon again later. But it was Chivas who took the lead in the 35th minute when a neat Ante Razov pass out of midfield sent Maykel Galindo in alone on goal, and he coolly rounded Joe Cannon before sliding home a shot for his fourth goal of the season.
Shortly after the break, the Galaxy pulled level. A cross came in from the left and it was headed away by Claudio Suarez -- but only as far as Donovan, standing on the edge of the area. He settled and drove a low shot inside the left-hand post past an unsighted Guzan.
In stoppage time, a Santino Quaranta chip found Kyle Martino, and he headed the ball on to the back post, where Donovan came in seemingly certain to once again give the Galaxy a win against their in-stadium rivals. But Guzan quickly came off his line to block the effort with his legs. Chivas USA have won just one of the 10 league meetings between the teams; Guzan's stop secured just the second draw.
