Seattle Sounders closed the gap on the top two in Major League Soccer's Western Conference with a 4-0 mauling of the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday.

Eddie Johnson gave hosts Seattle a sixth-minute lead and second-half strikes from Freddy Montero (52), Alex Caskey (61) and Andy Rose (90) sealed a comprehensive win over the Galaxy.

The victory lifts in-form Seattle onto 37 points, seven behind Western Conference leaders San Jose Earthquakes and five behind second-placed Real Salt Lake, but with games still in hand on both teams.

The Galaxy, who had star players David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane in their line-up, remain in fifth place after suffering their first league defeat in six matches.

In the other match, Portland Timbers brought to an end a run of five successive defeats with a 1-1 home draw against a FC Dallas side who played almost the entire second half with a player less.

Dallas took a 51st-minute lead through Scott Sealy but they were reduced to 10 men almost immediately when Zach Lloyd was handed his marching orders and Portland took advantage to snatch a 79th-minute equaliser through Jack Jewsbury.

There was a minute's silence before both matches in tribute to Columbus Crew midfielder Kirk Urso, who died yesterday at the age of 22.