Real Salt Lake downs Colorado to eliminate Rapids from playoff race
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) — Joao Plata and Luke Mulholland scored 10 minutes apart in the first half and Real Salt Lake beat Colorado 2-1 on Sunday night to eliminate the Rapids from the playoff race.
The Rapids (8-12-10) struck first. Kevin Doyle headed a long cross from Sean St. Ledger in the 16th minute, snapping a shot from 15-yards out that found its way into the far corner.
Real Salt Lake (10-12-8) struck back in the 33rd minute when Plata bent a free kick over the Colorado wall and just under the crossbar.
Juan Manuel Martinez' shot in the 43rd minute was headed away by Colorado, but Mulholland headed the ball to his feet and one-timed a crisp shot from the top of the penalty area that found the far corner.
RSL is three points out of the final playoff spot with three games remaining.
DALLAS 4, HOUSTON 1
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — David Texeira scored twice, and Kellyn Acosta added a third second-half goal and FC Dallas beat the Houston Dynamo 4-1 on Sunday to become the first Western Conference team to clinch a playoff spot.
Texeira put Dallas ahead when he fired a rocket from 20 yards that caromed off the crossbar in the 51st minute. Kellyn Acosta one-timed a shot off the crossbar 2 minutes later, and Texeira added an insurance goal in the third minute of stoppage time.
Coming off back-to-back losses on the road, including a 3-2 loss to the L.A. Galaxy, FC Dallas (14-10-5) beat the Dynamo for the fifth consecutive time and swept all three meetings this season.
Ricardo Clark scored from 15 yards to pull Houston even after Mauro Diaz scored on a penalty kick to give Dallas the early lead.
