Hat-trick hero Lamar Neagle is mobbed by team mates

SEATTLE SOUNDERS 6-2 COLUMBUS CREW

Lamar Neagle hit the first hat-trick of his MLS career as play-off bound Seattle made a statement to their rivals.

The 24-year-old opened the scoring with a low curled effort just four minutes in, and Mauro Rosales quickly made it two from the penalty spot after Rich Balchan’s handball.

Neagle’s well-executed volley from a pinpoint James Riley cross extended the lead, and Mike Fucito’s first league goal of the season saw the Sounders four to the good before half-time.

Jeff Cunningham pulled one back from the spot to move clear at the top of the MLS all-time goalscoring charts, but that was soon overshadowed as Neagle saved his best for last, crashing a 25-yard effort in off the crossbar.

Josh Gardner reduced the deficit with a swerving free-kick, but the Crew left-back put through his own net barely a minute later to ensure Sigi Schmid’s side walked away with their biggest ever win at CenturyLink Field.

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SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2-3 FC DALLAS

A phenomenal comeback saw Dallas strike three times in the final 20 minutes to condemn Sporting to only their second defeat at Livestrong Sporting Park.

After Maicon Santos headed a golden chance wide for the visitors from Ricardo Villar’s corner, Peter Vermes’ side went ahead in the 22^nd minute as Kei Kamara robbed Ugo Ihemelu, drove into the box and drilled a low shot across Kevin Hartman.

Teal Bunbury smacked a 30-yard effort against the bar after half-time, before the US international’s wayward shot fell perfectly for Omar Bravo to make it two from close range.

But Daniel Hernandez’s free kick went through a crowd of players to halve the deficit, before Bunbury’s dismissal for a second yellow card gave Dallas a fighting chance

With time running out Santos made amends for his earlier miss with a prodigious leap to head home Brek Shea’s cross, and another Shea delivery in stoppage time was met by the head of Bobby Warshaw for the defender to score his first professional goal at the perfect time.

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VANCOUVER WHITECAPS 1-0 HOUSTON DYNAMO

Houston remain winless at home despite the heroics of goalkeeper Tally Hall at Empire Field.

The All-Star had a nervous start, fumbling Davide Chiumiento’s free-kick and looking on fortunately as the ball hit the woodwork and bounced across the goal-line.

That sparked the visitors into life, with Adam Moffat hitting a thunderous shot against the bar and Brad Davis forcing an improvised stop from Joe Cannon.

Then it was Hall’s turn to take centre-stage, showing great reflexes to keep out Mustapha Jarju’s glancing header then getting a strong left hand to Eric Hassli’s powerful 53^rd minute effort.

But he was helpless four minutes from time as Long Tan’s excellent turn and pass freed up Shea Salinas, and the winger drove into the box before opening up his body and firing low across Hall for his first goal in a Whitecaps shirt.

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TORONTO FC 1-1 SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES

Chris Wondolowski popped up with a timely late equaliser to save San Jose from a third successive defeat.

Last season’s Golden Boot winner was denied early on by Milos Kocic, before Eric Avila fired the hosts ahead after reacting quickly to a loose ball.

Joao Plata saw a second ruled out on a marginal offside call, and Matt Luzunaris almost equalised with a diving header after Kocic had denied Wondolowski for a second time.

But three minutes from time the Toronto defence switched off as their former player Jacob Peterson launched a long throw into the box. Bobby Burling flicked the ball on to the back post where Wondo was waiting to volley home from close range.

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CHIVAS USA 0-1 REAL SALT LAKE

Real Salt Lake held on for a hard-fought away victory despite playing for more than an hour with 10 men.

Alvaro Saborio opened the scoring, pouncing on a Junior Lopes mistake to round Dan Kennedy and slot into the empty net.

Juan Pablo Angel volleyed against the bar as Chivas pushed for a leveller, and Nat Borchers made the visitors’ task more difficult when he was shown his marching orders for dragging down Nick LaBrocca as he bore down on goal.

However, Robin Fraser’s side were unable to create too many clear-cut chances, and the closest they came to equalising was when Marcos Mondaini’s mishit cross deceived Nick Rimando but bounced away off the frame of the goal.

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CHICAGO FIRE 2-0 COLORADO RAPIDS

Dominic Oduro’s ninth goal of the season helped Chicago make it seven points from a possible nine as Frank Klopas’ men begin a late play-off charge.

The Ghanaian outpaced Tyrone Marshall to collect a long ball over the top and fire low into the corner. And Cory Gibbs doubled the lead against his former club, heading home after Sebastian Grazzini dug out a superb cross from the left touchline.

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PORTLAND TIMBERS 1-0 CHIVAS USA (Wednesday)

Portland recorded their eighth home win of the campaign to remain on the fringes of the play-off picture.

Chivas winger Laurent Courtois stung the fingertips of Troy Perkins early on, while it took a stunning reflex save from Dan Kennedy to deny David Horst an opener for the hosts.

But Horst’s centre-back partner Eric Brunner put the Timbers ahead as half-time drew near with a perfectly placed header from Mike Chabala’s inswinging corner.

Kennedy kept the visitors in the game with a scrambling save from Kalif Alhassan, and Courtois was given a golden chance to equalise in stoppage time, but the Frenchman could only prod wide after Justin Braun headed Heath Pearce’s deep cross into the six-yard box.

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Tags: Lamar Neagle, MLS, Seattle Sounders