making just his second professional appearance -- dove to head home the seeming winner.
But the Revolution showed the resilience that has left them with just one loss this season. Four minutes deep into stoppage time, Joe Franchino swung in a free kick from the left that Taylor Twellman headed down. Sharlie Joseph slipped it past a defender with the slightest of touches and Andy Dorman was there to sweep it past Kevin Hartman. Still, the Revolution haven't won at the Galaxy since a July 4 win in the inaugural MLS season of 1996.
Two nights earlier in Carson, Calif., Chivas USA battled hard with the Chicago Fire and had the upper hand for much of the early exchanges. They also saw a penalty saved, Chivas 'keeper Brad Guzan turning aside Jesse Marsch's spot kick after a handball.
But everything changed in the 76th minute when Orlando Perez was shown a straight red card for a hard tackle. The ensuing restart was flighted into the back post where defender Jim Curtin knocked it back across the face of goal. Gonzalo Segares came racing in to bundle it over the line for his second goal on the campaign (78).
At Crew Stadium, D.C. United hadn't won a game in Columbus in almost exactly five years, and in the first half the Crew seemed certain to be ready to extend that streak when John Wolyniec was bundled over in the box. But United 'keeper Nick Rimando flew to his right to turn aside the resulting penalty from Mario Rodriguez.
Then United were grateful to accept a little more good fortune. A poor clearance from a Jamil Walker attempt at goal fell right to Christian Gomez's feet in the area, and he tried to drive a pass to the opposite post. But Crew center back Chad Marshall stepped in and saw the ball bounce off his leg into the back of the net for the match-winner (64).
In Denver, although the host Colorado Rapids had won eight of their nine previous Fourth of July matches at home -- and often with late heroics -- the Kansas City Wizards got off to the best possible start when Chris Klein took a pass on the right and let fly with a screaming blast from just outside the area that bounced off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net.
But after the break the Rapids continued their run of form on the holiday with two goals in four minutes. First, Eric Denton swung in a corner to the near post where Alain Nkong fought off his defender and send a downward header homeward (57), then four minutes later Terry Cooke hit a free kick that took a slight deflection off the wall, but it was enough to wrong-foot Wizards 'keeper Bo Oshoniyi and sneak past into the net.
At Rice-Eccles Stadium, Real Salt Lake overcame a man disadvantage as the MetroStars saw a late lead evaporate for the second consecutive match.
Just before the halftime break, Sergio Galvan Rey fired a shot that RSL 'keeper D.J. Countess couldn't handle, but Ante Razov slipped in to pound the rebound home for his third goal since joining the MetroStars. Then seconds later, Real defender Brian Dunseth was sent off with a straight red for a foul on Eddie Gaven.
After the break, the MetroStars quickly took advantage and doubled their lead, Mike Magee scoring his first goal since last Sept. 11 after being set up by Eddie Gaven.
But a poor clearance led to Real getting a goal back in the 79th minute. Substitute Seth Trembly took a pass at the corner of the area and curled a shot past the outstretched Zach Wells into the side netting. Then just before the clock ticked over 90 minutes, Jason Kreis was taken down by Metro defender Carlos Mendes in the area, and he calmly buried his own spot kick for his 97th career goal and a share of the points for his team.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
