SEATTLE — Clint Dempsey scored his 50th MLS goal for Seattle on Saturday as the Sounders beat Kansas City 1-0.

Dempsey broke the deadlock when he scored off a first half header as the Sounders stretched their unbeaten streak to eight matches and joined Kansas in a three-way tie for the lead at the top of the Western Conference standings.

The two teams were later joined on 37 points by the Houston Dynamo, who posted a resounding 3-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes.

Houston made it six games on the trot without defeat when Alberth Elis scored in the first half then Vicente Sanchez and Mauro Manotas added goals in the second term.

Toronto maintained their four point lead in the Eastern Conference standings with an emphatic 4-1 victory over the Portland Timbers, with all five goals coming in the second half.

Justin Morrow scored twice for Toronto while Victor Vazquez and Marco Delgado also netted before Diego Valeri's late consolation for Portland.

Jonathan Lewis and David Villa both scored as New York City beat LA Galaxy 2-0 to remain second on the Western Conference ladder,

Lewis, a 20-year-old rookie, scored his first MLS goal in brilliant fashion with a long-range strike while Spanish World Cup winner fired in his 18th of the season, the most in the MLS.

Columbus Crew came from a goal behind to beat Chicago 3-1 while the New York Red Bulls also fought back to down Orlando City by the exact same score.

Montreal's Swiss midfielder Blerim Dzemaili scored twice as the Impact beat Philadelphia 3-0, while Teal Bunbury scored his fourth goal in five matches to help New England beat Vancouver '1-0. Dallas and Colorado played out a scoreless draw.