MLS Wrap: Johnson does Dallas, Salt Lake sink Chivas

Seattle Sounders have stunned Western Conference leaders FC Dallas 4-2 in Major League Soccer thanks to a brace from Eddie Johnson.

The Sounders ended Dallas’ unbeaten run at nine games, scoring twice in each half at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, while the Texan visitors finished the match with 10 players after Blas Perez was red-carded in the 73rd minute.

Johnson got the home side going with a thumping strike just after the quarter-hour mark and, when Dallas drew level at 2-2 in the 61st minute, the Sounders’ 29-year-old striker responded immediately with a fine finish to deflate the visitors.

The win took Seattle to sixth in the MLS’ Western Conference standings, while Dallas remain top – four points clear of Real Salt Lake.

The Sounders opened the scoring in the 16th minute on Saturday when a Dallas goal-kick was headed forward by Seattle’s Osvaldo Alonso and Johnson ran onto the loose ball, before lashing a shot past visiting goalkeeper Raul Fernandez.

It was 2-0 on the half-hour mark when Brad Evans released Lamar Neagle in behind Dallas’ defence and the 26-year-old striker burst clear, getting past Fernandez to complete a simple finish.

Dallas fought back early in the second half with Kenny Cooper flicking Michel’s free-kick home in the 54th minute before the latter brilliantly curled a corner over Seattle goalkeeper Michael Gspurning and into the net seven minutes later.

But with the visiting fans still celebrating Michel’s equaliser, Johnson struck – getting free in the penalty area and then finishing from a tight angle after dribbling around Fernandez.

Dallas had Perez sent off with 17 minutes remaining after the Panamanian forward elbowed Leonardo Gonzalez before Obafemi Martins wrapped up the Sounders’ victory with an 83rd-minute goal.

Real Salt Lake took advantage of Dallas’ loss with a 4-1 thumping of Chivas USA but Portland Timbers missed out with a 2-2 draw away to Vancouver Whitecaps.

Eastern Conference leaders New York Red Bulls escaped with a 1-0 win at home against reigning MLS champions Los Angeles Galaxy thanks to Tim Cahill’s stoppage-time header, while Sporting Kansas City were held to a 1-1 draw by DC United and New England Revolution stunned Houston Dynamo 2-0.

In other results, Columbus Crew knocked off Toronto FC 1-0, San Jose Earthquakes drew 1-1 with Colorado Rapids and Philadelphia Union won 1-0 over Chicago Fire.