MLS wrap: Big wins for San Jose, Chicago

San Jose have moved clear of Western rivals Real Salt Lake through a big win over Chivas as Chicago beat Houston in Sunday MLS action.

In Santa Clara, Ramiro Corrales scored a second-half double to help the San Jose Earthquakes to a 4-0 thrashing of Chivas USA.

Victor Bernardez curled a free kick around the wall to open the scoring in the 11th minute for San Jose before Simon Dawkins doubled the lead six minutes before the break as he fired home from Chris Wondolowski’s assist.

Corrales put the result beyond any doubt in the second half as he scored from free kicks in the 71st and 81st minutes, helping San Jose extend their lead atop the Western Conference table to seven points over second-placed Real Salt Lake. Chivas, meanwhile, remain in seventh.

The Seattle Sounders, meanwhile, missed the chance to climb into second after being held to a 1-1 draw by sixth-placed FC Dallas.

Mauro Rosales opened the scoring for Seattle on the road in Dallas during the 20th minute as he tucked away Steve Zakuani’s cross, but the hosts levelled proceedings 13 minutes later when Jackson found the back of the net.

And, in the Eastern conference, the Chicago Fire have climbed into third on the table through a 3-1 victory over the Houston Dynamos.

The Fire are unbeaten in five matches and have won four of those games, with their confidence shining through as Patrick Nyarko found a hole in the Dynamos defence and fired the ball home through the legs of Houston goalkeeper Tally Hall in the first minute.

Macoumba Kandji had a goal disallowed for Houston in the 13th minute when referee David Gantar ruled that the Dynamo striker had directed the ball in with his arm.

Given a scare, the Fire doubled their lead in the 19th minute as Daniel Paladini fired home before Houston gave themselves some hope of an unlikely draw when Brian Ching’s deflected shot found the back of the net in the 90th minute.

But Alex wrapped up the points for Chicago with a classy strike deep into stoppage time as Houston dropped to fourth on the Eastern Conference table.