including the 89th-minute match-winner.
Cila ripped home a shot from just inside the area in the 13th minute for his first professional goal, but Eddie Gaven's clear header off a pinpoint cross from Joselito Vaca (23) levelled terms, then Sergio Galvan Rey walked onto a Jeff Parke header on a corner for the easiest of tap-ins (53) to give Metro the second-half lead.
But 11 minutes from the end Nat Borchers drove home a rebound of a heading duel on a freekick in the area, then Cila turned home a corner from close range after Borchers headed it down well to give the Rapids a second consecutive win on the road.
It was the second consecutive loss to a team in last place for the MetroStars, and their misery continued at the weekend when United scored six goals in a league match for the first time since the inaugural season, when they put six past Dallas (July 7, 1996).
Gaven actually gave Metro the lead (18) when he beat the United offside trap and chipped D.C. 'keeper Troy Perkins with aplomb. But then Ryan Nelsen headed home a free kick (30) to pull United level, then Jaime Moreno got a most unexpected go-ahead goal, stripping Metro 'keeper Jonny Walker in the area before tapping into an empty net.
Alecko Eskandarian then continued his run of form with his first of two goals on the day, hammering home a Dema Kovalenko cross from close range to finish off a wonderful movement to give United a two-goal halftime lead. After the break, Earnie Stewart then unlocked the Metro offside trap before driving a shot home between Walker's legs (57).
Fabian Taylor scored from inside the six after Gaven had done all the hard work battling through the United defense (63), but Eskandarian's second restored the three-goal margin (69), again driving into the goalmouth to convert for his fifth goal in three games. Then in stoppage time, Ben Olsen hammered a free kick through the MetroStars wall to close out the scoring.
On Sunday night, the Galaxy took over top billing in the West in a game that saw Carlos Ruiz return to league play with a double -- and referee Kevin Stott hand out nine bookings, including ejecting San Jose's Brian Mullan with seven minutes remaining for a second yellow card.
Dwayne De Rosario slotted home in the 41st minute after the Galaxy failed to clear their end on a number of occasions, but Ruiz pulled the home side even four minutes later when he bundled over a corner kick from almost on the goal line. Ruiz then finished off a flowing counterattack 10 minutes after the restart, side-footing home from the heart of the area to provide the margin of victory.
After Mullan was sent off the Galaxy desperately held on, Craig Waibel seemingly hitting for the equalizer only for substitute Ricky Lewis to clear off the line.
The night before, Davy Arnaud hit for his first career hat trick as the Wizards scored four goals over the final 18 minutes against the 10-man Burn.
Arnaud rifled the Wizards into the lead in the 22nd minute, finishing off a lethal counterattack from just inside the area. Jason Kreis then scored the 90th goal of his MLS career, neatly scoring after a turn left his marker in his wake to equalize for the visitors.
But then just before the half Kreis was sent off by referee Richard Heron after appearing to elbow Kerry Zavagnin, and though it took a while, the Wizards took full advantage. Chris Klein hit the back of the net with a 20-yard rocket (72), then three minutes later Josh Wolff headed home to finish off a goalmouth scramble.
Arnaud then got the Wizards' fourth in the 79th minute, dribbling around a pair of defenders at the top of the box before slipping a low past Burn 'keeper Jeff Cassar, before finishing off his night with another fine low strike off a solo after taking advantage of a poor clearance (90).
Also on Sunday, the Rapids won their third consecutive match and maintained contact with the West leadership, also continuing their dominance on the Fourth of July. The Rapids have won eight times in nine matches at home on Independence Day, also marked by huge crowds for the post-match fireworks extravaganza.
The game's lone goal came against the run of play, Cuban striker Alberto Delgado claiming his first MLS goal, prodding the ball over the line and the fallen Matt Reis after Chris Henderson's header was pushed off the face of the bar by the Revs 'keeper.
In the final match of the weekend, last year's Eastern Conference champion fell to fourth place in the division after a 2-0 loss to the Crew, Edson Buddle and Jeff Cunningham scoring goals a minute apart just before halftime.
Buddle ran on to a Ross Paule chip over the Fire back line, expertly chipping over 'keeper Henry Ring as the flag stayed down (43), then barely a minute later Cunningham's blast from inside the box took a wicked deflection before flying high past Ring inside his right-hand post.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
