Carson, Calif. – Herculez Gomez scored twice Saturday night to lead the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 4-1 victory over the Rapids.
Landon Donovan and Guillermo Ramirez also scored, and goalkeeper Kevin Hartman recorded his 104th career victory for the Galaxy, which moved into second place in the Western Conference by two points over FC Dallas.
Colorado (9-12-4) saw its five-game unbeaten streak end.
Gomez scored his first goal in the seventh minute. Peter Vagenas sent a ball to Gomez, who briefly lost the ball to Rapids defender Hunter Freeman before recovering it and firing a 13-yard shot under the crossbar.
Donovan scored his 11th goal in the 24th minute. Cobi Jones, playing in his 250th MLS game, sent a crossing pass from the right wing that Donovan headed 7 yards from the right post.
Donovan’s goal came three minutes after Rapids defender Nat Borchers was ejected for receiving his second yellow card. Colorado played with 10 men for the remaining 69 minutes.
The Rapids’ Kyle Beckerman scored on a 24-yard shot off Vagenas in the 48th minute but Gomez scored his second goal in the 66th minute.
Ned Grabavoy’s pass freed Gomez on a breakaway, and Gomez’s 18-yard shot settled inside the left post over prone goalkeeper Joe Cannon.
Ramirez scored his first MLS goal in the 87th minute on a penalty kick.
New England 3, Columbus 1
Foxboro, Mass. – Taylor Twellman scored three goals as Eastern Conference-leading New England beat Columbus.
Twellman scored twice in the first half – in the sixth and 39th minutes – and then tallied his MLS-best 14th goal of the season in the 63rd minute.
New England, winners of five of six overall, improved to 9-1-3 at home and has a franchise-best 51 points. Columbus had its three-game winning streak snapped.
New England goalkeeper Matt Reis, bidding for his ninth shutout of the season, was denied in the 86th minute when Columbus’ Frank Hejduk scored off a header on a cross from Simon Elliott.
MetroStars 1, Wizards 0
Kansas City, Mo. – Eddie Gaven scored on a long shot to give the MetroStars a win.
Earthquakes 3, Chivas USA 0
San Jose, Calif. – Dwayne De Rosario set up all San Jose’s goals and the Earthquakes beat CD Chivas for the first time this season.
D.C. United 2, FC Dallas 1
San Jose, Calif. – D.C. United continued the streak of misery for FC Dallas, extending its club-record winless streak to 10 games.
