Jeff Cunningham

FRISCO, Texas, CMC

Jamaica-born Jeff Cunning-ham sustained his scoring form and helped FC Dallas (FCD) thump DC United 3-0 in their US Major League Soccer (MLS) match on Sunday.

Cunningham logged his fifth goal in seven games - since joining FC Dallas from Toronto FC - early in the second half and helped propel his side in their play-off bid.

Just over 12,000 fans watched the fixture at Pizza Hut Park and Dallas were ahead after only nine minutes when Brazilian André Rocha scored from a long-range free kick.

Widened lead

FCD widened their lead 11 minutes into the second half when Cunningham met a cross from Marcelo Saragosa and scored.

Breaking free down the left flank, Saragosa whipped a cross inside and Cunningham won a race with defender Gonzalo Martinez and goalkeeper Louis Crayton to meet the ball, and poked the ball into the goal with a jumping right-footed effort.

Kenny Cooper made it 3-0 in stoppage time and the win keeps FCD in fifth place in the Western Conference, within three points of second-place Chivas USA.

Cunningham, originally from Montego Bay on Jamaica's north coast, was the weekend's third Jamaican scorer after Omar Cummings and Dane Richards.

Cummings helped Colorado Rapids beat New York Red Bulls with Richards.

Colorado, who got three goals from Conor Casey, opened the scoring swiftly through Cummings after only three minutes.

Richards got his goal for the Red Bulls in the 40th minute, which gave the Red Bulls a brief 3-2 lead.

In other weekend matches, Eastern Conference leaders Columbus Crew, who had St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) veteran Ezra Hendrickson coming on as an 88th minute substitute, edged New England Revolution 1-0, Toronto FC, with Jamaican defender Tyrone Marshall, drew 1-1 with Western Conference leaders Houston Dynamo, Real Salt Lake, with Jamaican Andy Williams, beat San José 3-2, and Chivas USA got past Kansas City Wizards 2-1.

The St Kitts and Nevis international Atiba Harris set up the second Chivas goal by Sasha Victorine in first-half stoppage time.