The leaders continue to sit pretty in Brazil, Mexico and the USA, while battle was joined in Argentina and Australia as a brace of challengers picked up important wins to gain a share of the lead.

FIFA.com looks back on another eventful weekend in the major leagues outside Europe.

Argentinian Apertura: Estudiantes on the up
Estudiantes were the big winners of the day, surging to a 4-1 win at Huracan to move to the top of the table on goal difference ahead of Rosario Central, who dropped two points at home to Banfield.

Velez Sarsfield could have made it a three-way tie but allowed Independiente to recover from a two-goal deficit to snatch a 2-2 draw. Hernan Lopez put the visitors ahead from the spot and Jonathan Cristaldo doubled their advantage moments later. Los Diablos Rojos came good in the final 25 minutes, however, with Andres Silvera and Carlos Matheu hitting back to secure a point.

Big games: Argentina's big two continued their poor starts to a season that has seen them collect just one win apiece in five games. Boca Juniors seemed to have the points in the bag at home to Godoy Cruz but a late penalty and an injury-time winner from Cristian Chavez gave the visitors an exciting 3-2 win, while neighbours and rivals River Plate fell behind to an early penalty at Arsenal and could find no way back.
Headline-grabber: Pincha striker Mauro Boselli scored again to join Banfield's Uruguayan hitman Santiago Silva at the head of the goalscoring rankings with five goals.

Brasileirao: Chasers trip up
Leaders Palmeiras are not in action until Wednesday, when they take on Cruzeiro, but will go into that game with a chance to strengthen their position thanks to disappointing results for closest challengers Internacional and Sao Paulo.

The reigning champions at least managed to a collect a point on their trip to struggling Santo Andre (1-1), putting them level with O Verdão at the top. The men from Porto Alegre did not fare so well, however, going down 2-0 at Vitoria, with the home side's goals coming from Uelliton and Roger.

Big game: The alarm bells are ringing at Fluminense, who are now eight points adrift of safety after going down to a thumping 5-1 defeat at Gremio.
Headline-grabber: Goias moved into the Copa Libertadores places in fine style, easing to a 4-1 win away to direct rivals Corinthians. Iarley was on target twice, with goals from Fernandao and Joao Paulo completing the rout.

MLS: Tough workout for Houston
Western Conference frontrunners Houston Dynamo were made to work hard to maintain their lead at the top. Goals from Brian Ching and Geoff Cameron in the opening five minutes seemed to augur an easy ride for the Dynamo at home to Real Salt Lake. However, the visitors had other ideas and levelled the game up thanks to goals from Kyle Beckerman and Armenian striker Yura Movsisyan. It was not until Brad Davis' winner nine minutes from time that the men from Houston could rest easy.

Big game: Eastern Conference leaders Columbus Crew had problems of their own against fellow title contenders Chicago Fire. Peter Lowry shot the Fire into a two-goal lead before the Crew's Argentinian star Guillermo Barros Schelotto got to work in the second half, striking twice to secure a hard-earned draw and maintain their three-point-lead with a game a hand.
Headline-grabber: David Beckham gave Los Angeles Galaxy the lead against Toronto with just his second goal of the season. Edson Buddle wrapped up the points late on as the Galaxy climbed up to second in the West.

Mexican Apertura: Toluca stay strong
After seeing Monarcas Morelia and then Monterrey momentarily move into first place in the standings, Toluca reimposed their authority with a 2-0 defeat of Atlas, the goals coming from Hector Mancilla and Carlos Esquivel.

Monarcas, who were first in action at the weekend, stole an early march with a 2-0 win at Tecos UAG, with Hugo Droguett and Mauricio Romero both getting on the scoresheet. On Saturday it was Los Rayados' turn to display their title credentials with an emphatic 3-1 win at Pachuca, another side expected to challenge for honours this season. Juan Carlos Cacho put Los Tuzos in front only for Monterrey's Chilean marksman Humberto Suazo to turn the game around with a quick-fire brace. Osvaldo Martinez struck late on to make sure of the points.

Big game: Guadalajara's new coach Raul Arias got off to a winning start as Sergio Amaury Ponce scored the only goal of the game against Jaguares.
Headline-grabber: Cruz Azul's Argentinian front man Emanuel Villa will long remember Saturday's meeting with Real San Luis. The in-form Villa hit four to swell his haul for the season to ten, taking him ahead of Salvador Cabanas as the leading scorer in the country.

Elsewhere
Gold Coast United were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Central Coast Mariners, only their second defeat of the Australian A-League campaign. That result allowed Sydney FC to join them on 13 points at the top following their 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets.

Henan Jianye are still out front in the Chinese Super League despite going down 1-0 at Shaanxi Zhongxin. The three teams behind them, Changchun Yatai, Beijing Guo'an and Shandong Luneng, all drew to leave Henan a point clear.