The San Jose Earthquakes had the weekend off, but the action was no less interesting for the Silicon Valley side with every game on tap providing MLS Cup Playoff implications.
Unfortunately, the weekend's results didn't give the Quakes any comfort after Sounders FC pounded the Columbus Crew on the road, Toronto FC righted its ship against Houston and Kansas City tallied twice in the second half for a 2-0 win over Chivas USA.
The most important - and equally as surprising - match was Seattle's 4-0 victory at Crew Stadium. Sounders FC now possess a +1 goal differential, one back of the Quakes with both teams square at 36-points. San Jose still has two games in hand on the Rave Green, but that playoff race just got a bit tighter.
AROUND MLS
Alvaro Saborio dealt the Chicago Fire's playoff hopes a major blow in a 1-0 Real Salt Lake win at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday. The Fire are 10 points back of No. 8 Sounders FC with seven games remaining.
Blaise Nkufo didn't need much time to reacquaint himself with the pitch in his first game back form a knee injury. The Swiss striker netted his first of three goals in the 4th minute, leading Sounders FC to a resonating 4-0 win against Eastern Conference leading Columbus.
Dwayne De Rosario may have single handedly resuscitated Toronto FC's playoff aspirations after scoring the game winner against Houston in the 94th minute at Robertson Stadium on Saturday. The Reds defeated the Dynamo a 2-1, Toronto FC's first victory since an August 17 CONCACAF Champions League match against Cruz Azul.
The Colorado Rapids leapfrogged San Jose in the playoff standings after a 3-0 win over visiting New England.
D.C. United scored first, but couldn't hold on in a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy. Landon Donovan scored a brace, including the game winner in the 86th minute.
Kansas City continued its hot streak with a 2-0 win against Chivas USA on Sunday. The Wizards trail Sounders FC by six points with two games in hand.
