Chivas falls to first-place Dallas, 2-0

Substitute Ramon Nunez scored his first goal in more than two months and Dario Sala earned his third consecutive shutout to lead FC Dallas to a 2-0 victory over Chivas USA on Wednesday.

FC Dallas (9-6-2) has four wins and a tie in its last six games, increasing its MLS-leading point total to 29, six ahead of Houston in the Western Conference.

Sala had to stop only two shots for Dallas’ fourth shutout in five games.

Dominic Oduro scored in the 86th minute to seal the win, Dallas’ first in five games against Chivas (6-5-2) since early last season.

Nunez, who entered the match in the 11th minute when Marcelo Saragusa had to leave because of a right knee injury, scored his third goal of the season in the 41st minute.

Chivas players argued to no avail that play should have been whistled because midfielder Francisco Mendoza was down, seemingly hurt, at the other end of the field.

With Chivas pressing for the tying goal, Dallas midfielder Pablo Richetti stole the ball and led a counterattack, resulting in Oduro’s third goal of the year.