Kevin Doyle's Colorado Rapids maintained their hot home streak in Major League Soccer, despite an uneven performance, edging Sporting Kansas City 1-0 on Wednesday.
After being outplayed for the first 45 minutes, Dillon Serna scored in the 78th minute after coming on as a substitute and the Rapids extended their undefeated streak to seven games.
The Ireland striker played the full 90 minutes, which will be a timely reminder for Martin O'Neill who names his squad for the upcoming friendly internationals this afternoon.
"In the second half we came out with a better mentality. We had more of the ball and created more opportunities," Colorado coach Pablo Mastroeni told reporters.
The Rapids were without striker injured Shkelzen Gash, which may have contributed to their early lull, but were also helped by Kansas City being down a man late in the match.
Ike Opara received his second yellow card in the 76th minute and was sent off.
The loss stretched the Kansas City (4-6-2) winless stretch to seven games.
Colorado (7-2-2) won their sixth straight home game to tie a team mark set in the 2005 campaign and lead the Western Conference by three points.
"With us on a run you might take the foot off the gas (at times)," Mastroeni said. "Tonight was one of those nights that proves you have to be focused for 90 minutes."
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the Union and Robbie Keane's Los Angeles Galaxy battled to a 2-2 draw.
The Ireland striker played a role in Robbie Rogers' 15th-minute equaliser, before LA went 2-1 ahead early in the second half.
However, Keegan Rosenberry scored his first MLS goal in the 63rd minute to grab a point for the home side.
Galaxy sit four points off leaders Colorado in third place.
In Texas, FC Dallas beat defending MLS Cup champions Portland 2-1.
Dallas (6-4-2) were able to bounce back from a three-game road trip that saw them fail to win or score.
In Vancouver, Blas Perez bagged a brace to push Vancouver past Chicago Fire 2-1.
Perez clinched it with a bicycle kick in the 89th minute.
Elsewhere, Alberto Quintero scored twice as San Jose beat Houston.
