The Seattle Sounders won the battle between first and second in the Western Conference, while the Los Angeles Galaxy continue their winning streak by beating stadium neighbors Chivas USA. Meanwhile, the East returned to ties in their head-to-head match-ups.
Houston 1 - Seattle 2
The Sounders had the support of the home crowd as they forced their way back after giving up a 12th minute goal to Houston's Brad Davis. Seattle got that goal back through Fredy Montero in the 32nd, with Houston defender Mike Chabala almost clearing it off the line. Houston keeper Pat Onstad would push a Steve Zakhuani off the line in a save of the season contender to keep the game even at the half. It would be Zakhuani setting up Patrick Ianni for his bicycle kick winner a minute into the second-half. "If you would have told me at the beginning of the game that we would have won the game on a bicycle kick, and I had to pick one of my players that was going to score the bicycle kick, I think Ianni would have been number nine," Seattle assistant Brian Schmetzer said. Schmetzer was filling in for head coach Sigi Schmid, missing the game for his son's wedding.
Kansas City 0 - New England 0
The Revolution couldn't take advantage late when Kansas City's Lance Watson was shown the door for serious foul play in the 81st, but it was the Wizards that had the gripe at not taking three points. 16 shots, 11 on goal with Jack Jewsbury's three on target equal to the Revs' output. The Wizards also had six corners to New England's one, and forced 11 saves from Matt Reis to Kevin Hartman's three. "With all the changes and all the players being out, we have to play to zero and make sure we're not allowing teams to score because we're having trouble scoring right now," Reis said. "Eleven saves is 11 saves. You're at home, so hopefully I wouldn't have to make 11 saves. But it's nice to be able to help the team out."
Columbus 0 - Chicago 0
The Fire got the big crowd (a season high 18,123) and the national television, but they couldn't come up with a goal from 11 shots on frame. The Fire's Jon Busch needed four saves to keep the game scoreless. The tie keeps the Fire top in the Eastern Conference, a position that coach Denis Hamlett isn't stressing. "We don't worry about first place," he said. "We go out trying to win the game and sometimes that happens, sometimes it doesn't. There were positives in the game. In the end of the game, we had five or six attacking guys on the field. We need to build on those positives, like getting a shutout at home, and keep moving forward."
Dallas 0 - Colorado 1
The Rapids got the home win courtesy of Kosuke Kimura's 79th minute goal in a game where Matt Pickens got the shutout without having to make a save. Dallas was without Gold Cup hero Stuart Holden. "We're getting to that point in the season when points are the most important thing," Colorado coach Gary Smith said. I think on the back of two defeats there is some doubt, whenever you think about what you're doing, you lose a little bit of confidence, and to get back on track again is vital."
San Jose 1 - Toronto 3
Toronto goes level on points, but trails Chicago in goal differential with an extra game played thanks to a win over the Western Conference's bottom club. Toronto took the lead in the 5th minute through Chad Barrett. Darren Huckerby made it even in the 32nd, and that score held through half-time. The second-half was all Toronto, with Pablo Vitti scoring in the 54th and Barrett finding goal again in the 69th. "We haven't had many games this year where we've won by a two-goal margin so that definitely took a bit of pressure off of our defense," Toronto keeper Stefan Frei said. "We needed the win here tonight and Chad taking advantage of the long balls sent in to him was so important to our success."
Los Angeles 1 - Chivas USA 0
Edson Buddle's 30th minute goal was the difference, as the Galaxy continue their run of form in the Western Conference. The win moves them into fourth-place, with Chivas USA in third. "I don't think that we're playing our best soccer," Buddle said. "But we know going into each game that we're not a team that can take days off and still win games, so we're going to have to fight and make things tough on our opponents. That's kind of been our motto. But tonight I have to give credit to our defense. We've been able to win all these games 1-0 so they deserve the credit."
MLS Depth Chart
1. Seattle (beat the League leaders) EVEN
2. Houston (lost to Sounders) -1
3. Chicago (top in the East) +1
4. Chivas USA (lost classico) -1
5. DC (did not play) EVEN
6. Colorado (returned to winning) +1
7. Toronto (tied on points in East) +2
8. Columbus (credit the keeper) -2
9. Los Angeles (Classico winners) +1
10. Kansas City (draw against Revs) -1
11. New England (draw against KC) EVEN
12. Dallas (losers in Commerce) EVEN
13. San Jose (lost by two) EVEN
14. Salt Lake (did not play) EVEN
15. New York (did not play) EVEN
