FRISCO, Texas (AP) Michael Barrios scored two goals to help FC Dallas beat Portland 4-1 on Saturday and strengthen its hold atop Major League Soccer's Western Conference standings.
The Colombian midfielder, who had just one previous goal since joining FC Dallas in February, opened the scoring with a shot from the right side of the goal in the 12th minute. Ten minutes later, he gave FC Dallas a 2-0 lead when he found the net from the top of the area.
FC Dallas won its fifth straight match to open a four-point lead in the West over Los Angeles, which lost to Houston 3-0.
Kellyn Acosta scored in the 69th for Dallas, and Mauro Diaz padded the lead with a penalty kick in the 87th.
The Galaxy had won four of their last five but struggled to keep up with the Dynamo in sweltering Houston.
The Dynamo took control in the ninth minute when Will Bruin settled Brad Davis' diagonal cross and smashed home a left-footer. Davis then added a long-range strike in the 27th.
Houston climbed out of joint-last in the West with the win.
In other games, Columbus wasted an opportunity to pull closer to East-leading DC United by giving up three goals to Toronto FC in the second half of their 3-3 draw.
Jozy Altidore drew a penalty in the box and converted it from the spot in the 89th minute to salvage the draw for Toronto. Sebastian Giovinco and Collen Warner scored in a five-minute span earlier in the half to begin the rally.
Columbus remains in second place in the East, four points behind DC United.
Elsewhere, Montreal beat Seattle 1-0 and New England and Chicago drew 2-2.
