MLS: Crew get big win vs. Dynamo; Sounders top Chivas USA

SOUNDERS FC 1, CHIVAS USA 0

SEATTLE (AP) - Lamar Neagle scored off of a free kick by Marc Burch midway through the first half to lead the surging Seattle Sounders to their sixth win in seven matches, 1-0 over Chivas USA on Wednesday night.

The Sounders (13-8-4) won their third straight and climbed into a tie with Los Angeles for second place in the Western Conference. Seattle is five points behind league-leading Real Salt Lake, with three games in hand.

Chivas (5-15-7) had its road winless streak extended to 12 (0-9-3).

A hard foul on Seattle defender DeAndre Yedlin gave the Sounders a free kick 23 yards up from the goal line on the right side. Burch drove the ball into the penalty area and Neagle, after settling it at the top right corner of the box, turned and drilled a right-footed shot into the far side of the net early in the 24th minute.

CREW 2, DYNAMO 0

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Justin Meram and Ryan Finley each had a goal and an assist to lead Columbus to a win over Houston.

Meram set up Finley's goal in the 47th minute then added his first of the season in the 74th with a strike from the left side of the box to the far post, helping the Crew (9-13-5) end a two-game skid.

Three minutes after Finley put the Crew ahead, his penalty kick was denied by Tally Hall.

Houston (10-9-7) fell to 0-2-1 in its past three matches.

Crew interim coach Brian Bliss won his debut after Robert Warzycha was fired Monday in his fifth season. Bliss retained his title as the team's technical director in charge of player personnel.

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