Red Bulls move into first place in East as Rapids, Galaxy clinch playoff spots

Dax McCarty had two assists before scoring the game-winning goal to help the New York Red Bulls beat the Philadelphia Union 3-2 and move into first place in the Eastern Conference on Saturday night.

The Red Bulls moved above New York City FC on goal difference while also jumping above Toronto FC with two games remaining.

After Fabian Herbers opened the scoring for the Union in the 15th minute,Sacha Kljestan one-timed Felipe's cross to tie it just before halftime.

McCarty's long pass over the top in the 47th minute freed Bradley Wright-Phillips for his 21st goal of the season, even with David Villa in the MLS Golden Boot standings.

Chris Pontius headed home Fabinho's diagonal cross in the 55th minute to level the score at two, beforeMcCarty scored the winner 11 minutes later with a header following a long free kick.

Philadelphia dropped to fifth place and also lost defender Joshua Yaro, who left the game on a stretcher after an aerial collision in the first half.

Sebastien Le Toux scored in the 63rd minute and the Colorado Rapids wrapped up a playoff spot with a 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers, whose own postseason hopes took a major blow.

Marlon Hairston slipped past a defender into the right side of the area and sent a low cross to the middle that Dominique Badji redirected and Le Toux smashed home.

The Rapids clinched their first playoff berth since 2013 and tied a franchise record with 51 points with four games to go.

The Timbers are in seventh place, behind on goal difference to the Seattle Sounders, who have two games in hand.<

Portland's defeat also meant theLA Galaxy also clinched a playoff spot despite a 1-0 defeat at FC Dallas.

Walker Zimmerman scored in the first half as Dallas snapped a three-game winless run to remain atop the overall MLS standings. FCD leads the Supporters' Shield race by five points, though Colorado has two games in hand.

Zimmerman was left uncovered on Mauro Diaz's corner kick and he headed it home in the 39th minute. Zimmerman just missed a glancing header in the 25th minute and Max Urruti curled a shot off the post in the 36th.

LA had a three-on-two opportunity on a counter-attack in the 18th minute but Steven Gerrard's shot rolled just outside the far post. Landon Donovan came on as a substitute in the 57th minute for the Galaxy, but the visitors could not find an equalizer.

Lamar Neagle scored twice and D.C. United rallied towin atToronto FC 2-1, dropping the Canadian club to third in the East.

Jozy Altidore turned D.C. defender Steve Birnbaum the wrong way and put Toronto ahead in the 36th minute, but Neagle headed home from a corner three minutes to equalize.

Neagle ran onto aLloyd Sam sam pass in the 58th minute to put D.C. ahead for good.

United extended its unbeaten streak to five, with four wins in that span, while the loss was just the second in 14 games for Toronto.

Simon Dawkins scored in the first half, Fatai Alashe had a goal in the second and the San Jose Earthquakes beat Real Salt Lake 2-1 to snap a seven-game winless stretch.

San Jose moved into eighth place in the Western Conference, four points back of sixth-placed Seattle. Real Salt Lake is fourth but had its winless streak extended to five games.

Dawkins opened the scoring in the 34th minute. He and Chris Wondolowski connected on a give-and-go with two back-heel passes and Dawkins struck it from distance.

Real Salt Lake tied it six minutes later when Justen Glad flicked a loose ball off the crossbar and it bounced in. Alashe scored on a well-placed header in the 72nd minute.

Kei Kamara and Juan Agudelo each had a goal and an assist to help the New England Revolution beat Sporting Kansas City 3-1.

New England remained in seventh place in the East, two points back of Montreal for the final playoff spot, while Sporting KC had its three-game unbeaten streak snapped.

Kamara opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Agudelo drew three defenders near the left sideline and he found Kamara wide open in the middle for a breakaway goal, his 11th on the season, but just his second at Gillette Stadium since being traded from Columbus in May.

Dom Dwyer tied it in the 49th minute for Kansas City when he knocked in Ellis' glancing header with his knees.

But New England regained the lead in the 75th minute on Kevin Ellis' own goal and Agudelo knocked home Kamara's cross eight minutes later.

Harrison Afful scored in the eighth minute, Justin Meram and Dilly Duka added goals in the second half and Columbus Crew SC beat the Chicago Fire 3-0.

Columbus avoided playoff elimination but are still six points out of sixth place need a strong showing their last three games, which include away fixtures against both of the New York squads.

Afful took Mohammed Saeid's corner from a few yards beyond the 18-yard box and sliced a shot that knuckled over the leaping Sean Johnson and under the crossbar.

Meram used a give-and-go with Dilly Duka and a cutback move to get free in the area and make it 2-0 for the Crew in the 50th minute.

Saeid crossed Meram's long pass to Duka who capped the scoring with a low shot that skidded over the diving Johnson in the 59th.