Rapids Inch Closer to Third Place

Jean-Phillipe Peguero and Dedi Ben Dayan scored goals as the Colorado Rapids defeated Real Salt Lake, 2-0, Wednesday night at Denver to move within five points of the Galaxy in the Western Conference standings.

Rapid goalkeeper Byron Foss, making his first MLS start, stopped a point-blank header by Marvin Tarley in the 51st minute to save the shutout.

Colorado (10-13-4) has 34 points and all but clinched the conference’s fourth playoff spot with five games left.

Real Salt Lake fell to 5-18-4.

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San Jose 2, Chicago 0 -- Dwayne De Rosario scored early in each half, and the Earthquakes (16-4-8) defeated the Fire (14-11-3) at San Jose for their sixth consecutive victory.

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Columbus 1, New England 1 -- Taylor Twellman scored in second-half injury time to lift the visiting Revolution (15-6-7) to a tie with the Crew (9-14-4) at Columbus, Ohio.