SEATTLE (AP) - Clint Dempsey scored off a corner kick in the 52nd minute and the Seattle Sounders beat the Colorado Rapids 1-0 on Saturday to extend their overall MLS lead.
Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei had his league-leading eighth shutout. The Sounders (15-7-3) boosted their points total to 48, assuring that they'll retain the Western Conference and Supporters Shield leads, regardless of any other results this weekend.
Dempsey scored his 11th goal to move within two of the Sounders' season record. Fredy Montero and Eddie Johnson each had 13 goals in 2012.
Marco Pappa's corner kick from the right side floated into the middle of the penalty area, Dempsey ran onto it and blasted a right-footed shot from 11 yards past goalkeeper Joe Nasco.
Colorado (8-12-6) lost its sixth straight, tying the franchise record set in 1999 and matched in 2012. The Rapids, who haven't won since beating Chivas USA 3-0 on July 25, have been shut out three times and outscored 16-6 during the losing streak.
The 30-year-old Nasco was making his MLS debut.
TIMBERS 3, WHITECAPS 0
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - Alvas Powell, Maximiliano Urruti and Rodney Wallace scored in the second half in Portland's victory over Vancouver.
Portland (8-8-10) moved into fifth place in the Western Conference, a point ahead of Vancouver (7-6-12). The top five will earn playoff spots.
Powell opened the scoring in the 51st minute. Diego Valeri threaded a ball into the box and the unmarked Powell headed it past goalkeeper David Ousted.
Urruti, a second-half substitute, scored in the 75th, taking a pass from Michael Harrington and blasting a shot that hit the crossbar and fell into the net behind Ousted.
Wallace made it 3-0 in the 79th, slipping behind the defense and converting a pass from Darlington Nagbe.
REAL SALT LAKE 1, EARTHQUAKES 1, TIE
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - Javier Morales evened the score in the 36th minute, and San Jose and Real Salt Lake finished in a tie.
Morales converted from the spot after referee David Gantar ruled Earthquakes defender Jason Hernandez tripped Joao Plata inside the penalty area. Real Salt Lake (11-5-10) moved into a second-place tie with the LA Galaxy in the Western Conference.
Sam Cronin opened the scoring for San Jose (6-10-8) in the 14th minute with a left-footed strike into the far-left corner of the goal. Chris Wondolowski assisted Cronin for the goal after a defensive miscue by Real Salt Lake.
IMPACT 2, CREW 0
MONTREAL (AP) - Recently acquired designated player Ignacio Piatti scored his first two MLS goals to help Montreal beat Columbus.
The Argentine midfielder took a feed from Felipe Martins inside the Columbus area, deked Michael Parkhurst and drilled in a shot in the 40th minute. Piatti added another goal in extra time with a sliding shot on a loose ball.
The last-place Impact improved to 5-15-5.
Columbus dropped to 8-9-9. It won its previous two matches.
REVOLUTION 3, TORONTO FC 0
TORONTO (AP) - Lee Nguyen, Kelyn Rowe and Teal Bunbury scored in New England's victory over Toronto FC.
New England (10-12-3) is 3-1-1 since ending an eight-game losing streak. The Revolution also ended their road losing streak at five games. Newly signed designated player Jermaine Jones came off the bench in the 65th minute for New England.
Toronto dropped to 9-9-6.
FIRE 1, DALLAS FC 0
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (AP) - Robert Earnshaw scored on a late header and Chicago snapped Dallas FC's 10-game unbeaten streak.
Jeff Larentowicz's cross found Earnshaw in the center of the box, and Earnshaw's twisting header in the 83rd minute deflected past goalkeeper Raul Fernandez for the difference-maker.
Chicago improved to 5-6-14, and Dallas fell to 12-8-6.