COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Federico Higuain scored two goals for the second straight match, lifting the Columbus Crew to a 2-0 victory over Toronto FC on Saturday night.
The Argentinean forward gave the Crew (8-11-5) the lead in the 19th minute, then for the second straight game had an exquisite chip for the second tally in the 67th. Higuain perfectly placed a looping ball from 23 yards over the futile effort of goalkeeper Joe Bendik, who was only a few yards off the goal line.
Higuain is tied with Dominic Oduro for the team lead with nine goals as the Crew have consecutive wins for the first time since Aug. 29 and Sept. 1, 2012, a span of 32 games.
Toronto FC (4-12-8) has lost two straight after winning its previous two.
IMPACT 2, UNITED 1
MONTREAL (AP) - Marco Di Vaio scored twice and Montreal snapped a two game skid by beating D.C. United..
Montreal (11-7-5) won for the second time in its last nine matches.
Conor Doyle scored for D.C. (3-17-4), which is winless in 11 road matches while totaling just three goals.
DiVaio got Montreal on the scoreboard in the 43rd minute. After a strong effort on the right wing, midfielder Justin Mapp crossed the ball in for Di Vaio and the striker scored his 12th goal of the season, and his first since July 3.
Doyle tied the score in the 81st, and Di Vaio put Montreal back ahead in the 83rd as he converted from the left wing off a header by Patrice Bernier.
REVOLUTION 2, FIRE 0
FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) - Juan Agudelo returned to the lineup after a two-month injury absence and scored a dazzling goal in the 54th minute to lead New England over Chicago.
Kelyn Rowe banged in a rebound of a Saer Sene drive in 1st minute of injury time for New England's second goal.
The 20-year old Agudelo took a long, looping pass from midfielder Chris Tierney and nudged a one-touch volley over on-charging Chicago goalie Sean Johnson.
New England ended a two-match winless and scoreless streak, improving to 9-9-6 on the season, 5-4-3 at home. Chicago (9-10-4) had its four-match (3-0-1) unbeaten streak end, being shut out on the road for the fifth time this season. The Fire had scored in 12 consecutive matches.
Agudelo missed eight games recovering from a right knee sprain.
UNION 0, RED BULLS 0
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) - Zac MacMath came up with the big saves that allowed Philadelphia to escape with a scoreless draw against New York.
The goalkeeper had a strong game from beginning to end, saving Dax McCarty's point-blank header in injury time inches from the goal line.
Philadelphia (10-7-8) came close to giving up a winning goal in the 63rd minute, but was bailed out when MacMath leaped in front of Peguy Luyindula and grabbed Tim Cahill's header near the goalmouth. MacMath made two huge saves in the first half as well. He shares the MLS lead for clean sheets (9).
The draw moved New York (11-8-6) into a tie for first in the Eastern Conference with Sporting Kansas City. The Union are a point back in third with 38 points.
DYNAMO 3, SOUNDERS 1
HOUSTON (AP) - Giles Barnes scored twice in the first half and Will Bruin added a goal in the second half to lead Houston over Seattle.
The win was the second in three games for the Dynamo (10-7-6), while Seattle (10-8-4) saw its four-game unbeaten streak end in U.S. national team captain Clint Dempsey's his first start for the Sounders.
Barnes had his first multi-goal game in the MLS, giving the Dynamo a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute and upped it to 2-0 five minutes later with a blast from 30 yards out.
Shalrie Joseph cut the lead in half on a header in the 65th minute.
Bruin scored in the 74th minute to extend Houston's lead to 3-1.
RAPIDS 2, WHITECAPS 0
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) - Deshorn Brown scored in the 36th minute to lead surging Colorado past Vancouver.
Edson Buddle added a goal for the Rapids, who extended their unbeaten streak to nine games. They are 5-0-4 since an 0-3-1 stretch.
Colorado (10-7-9) moved ahead of the Whitecaps for sole possession of second place in the Western Conference.
Goalkeeper Clint Irwin earned his ninth shutout.
Vancouver (10-8-6) is 1-3-1 in its last five games.