HARRISON, N.J. (AP) - Sherjill MacDonald scored two second-half goals, lifting the Chicago Fire to a crucial 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
The Fire (17-10-5) jumped three points ahead of the Red Bulls (15-9-8) in the Eastern Conference, with two games remaining, and moved closer to earning a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs. Chicago can get in if Columbus loses to Sporting Kansas City on Sunday.
New York dropped to 11-2-3 at home.
MacDonald broke a scoreless tie in the 65th minute by getting past two Red Bulls defenders off a fine lead pass from Chris Rolfe, then hitting a shot past goalkeeper Luis Robles.
MacDonald, who had only two goals this season before Saturday, made it 2-0 in the 79th minute, taking a pass from Daniel Paladini and sprinting past two defenders to touch it gently past Robles.
EARTHQUAKES 4, RAPIDS 1
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) - Chris Wondolowski scored three goals and added an assist to help the Earthquakes clinch the Western Conference title with a victory over the Rapids.
Marvin Chavez added his second goal of the season 95 seconds into the game for San Jose (19-6-7). The Earthquakes hold a six-point lead over idle Sporting Kansas City for the Supporters' Shield.
San Jose tied a club with 64 points in a season.
Andre Akpan scored on a penalty kick in the 90th minute for the Rapids.
Colorado (9-19-4) has won only twice in its last 16 games, going 2-11-3 in that span. The Rapids will miss the playoffs for first time since 2009.
D.C. UNITED 1, TORONTO FC 0
TORONTO (AP) - Hamdi Salihi scored a late goal to give D.C. United a win over Toronto FC.
Last-place Toronto (5-20-7) stretched its winless streak to 12 games since beating Colorado on July 18.
Conceding late goals has been recurring issue all season for the Reds. Former Toronto player Maicon Santos sent a cross from the right side in the 88th minute that TFC goalkeeper Milos Kocic mishandled.
Salihi was in the right place to tap in the goal from close range for United (16-10-6).
IMPACT 1, DYNAMO 1
HOUSTON (AP) - Sanna Nyassi scored in the second half and the Impact tied the Dynamo.
Despite the tie, Montreal (12-15-5, 41 points) was eliminated from MLS playoff contention, while Houston (13-8-11, 50 points) extends its lead over Columbus for fifth place in the Eastern Conference and the final playoff spot to two points.
Nyassi tied it in the 66th minute, getting behind the Houston defense and having his first shot from 16 yards in the middle of the box saved by Houston goalkeeper Tally Hall, but one-timing the rebound into the net.
UNION 1, REVOLUTION 0
CHESTER, Pa. (AP) - Jack McInerney converted a header off a free kick in the 73rd minute, lifting the Union past the Revolution.
Following a foul on teammate Michael Farfan, Keon Daniel took the free kick from 20 yards out and sent a clear pass to McInerney, who scored his team-leading seventh goal. It was also the third consecutive game that he scored.
The Union improved to 10-15-6 and have never lost to the Revolution in seven career meetings (4-0-3).
Philadelphia won for the third time in its last four matches, but remains in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
REAL SALT LAKE 2, GALAXY 1
CARSON, Calif. (AP) - Fabian Espindola scored goals about 2½ minutes apart midway through the first half and Real Salt Lake beat the Galaxy.
Espindola scored in the 25th and 28th minutes to help RSL (17-11-4) overcome an early deficit to pull five points ahead of the Galaxy (15-12-5) and six in front of Seattle in the battle for second place in the Western Conference. RSL and L.A. have two games remaining; Seattle, which plays Portland on Sunday, has four left.