By Ridge Mahoney

The Rapids win twice, D.C. and K.C. pile up the goals, L.A. takes the latest leg of the California clasico, and the Crew outmuscles the Fire.

BEST GOALS: In six games played including that of last Wednesday, 25 goals were scored, and two of the best were classic buildups.

In its 6-2 win over the MetroStars, D.C. United converted a steal in its own defensive third into Alecko EskandarianÆs first goal with a measured, precise chain of passes that freed Jaime Moreno to push a ball wide that Dema Kovalenko ran up the flank and drilled low on one bounce to the near post, where Eskandarian cracked it high into the net first-time.

Los Angeles scored the winner in its 2-1 defeat of San Jose off a goal kick. It was played up the middle and then sent wide to Ricky Lewis, whose ball up the left wing found Ned Grabavoy. He turned on the jets to turn the corner behind right back Wes Hart, and cut a diagonal ball behind the run of Jovan Kirovski that Carlos Ruiz drove low inside the far post.

Another good buildup allowed Kerry Zavagnin to prod a short square pass right into the path of Chris Klein charging up the field; he touched it once and then blasted a right-footer from 25 yards that caromed in off the inside of the post. That was the go-ahead goal in Kansas CityÆs 5-1 rout of Dallas and one of only two WizardsÆ goals not scored by Davy Arnaud.

SOLO, SOLO: ArnaudÆs hat trick included a zigzag run through the center of the field past three defenders that he polished off with a left-footed shot along the ground just inside the post. He scored another with his left and one with his right.

GOAL KINGS: Sergio Galvan Rey, who arrived in MLS this season from Colombian club Once Caldas, which went on to win the Libertadores Cup without the ôKing of Goals,ö finally scored his first MLS goal in the MetrosÆ 3-2 loss to Colorado last Wednesday. Several other players, not just Arnaud, overshadowed his solitary strike.

Eskandarian got a pair of goals, the second time this season heÆs hit the net twice in the same game. His six goals this season already doubles the three he recorded last year.

Former U.S. U-17 and U-20 international Jordan Cila celebrated his second MLS start by scoring ColoradoÆs first and last goals as it rallied to defeat the MetroStars, 3-2, on Wednesday.

Carlos Ruiz took over the league scoring lead with both goals in the Galaxy win. He forced the ball over the goal line in first-half stoppage time to tie the match before netting his eighth early in the second half.
NEW FACES: Cila wasnÆt the only newcomer to spark the RapidsÆ attack.

Cuban striker Alberto Delgado, signed a few hours before kickoff following an injury to compatriot Rey Angel Martinez, pounced on a Chris Henderson header that had come off the crossbar to score the goal that downed New England, 1-0.
BIG SAVES: Despite some fine goalkeeping by Pat Onstad, the Quakes fell to their southern rivals at the Home Depot Center.

Onstad turned away a Kirovski header in the first half and dived low to deny Andreas Herzog in the second half. At the other end, Galaxy goalie Kevin Hartman flew high to turn a Dwayne DeRosario header over the crossbar and Ricky Lewis easily cleared a goal-bound shot from Craig Waibel that would have tied the game in stoppage time.

Ex-Quakes keeper Joe Cannon did some dazzling work in both of ColoradoÆs wins. He stopped a low shot and a strong header from Pat Noonan and also snuffed Clint Dempsey from close range in a 1-0 win over New England, and denied Ricardo Clark with a right-handed save with the Rapids trailing the Metros, 2-1.
OOPS: Metros keeper Jonny Walker let Moreno pluck the ball off his foot to score UnitedÆs second goal, and couldnÆt stop Earnie Stewart from slotting the ball between his legs on the fourth. In two games, Walker and the Metros conceded nine goals.

STREAKY: Metros teenager Eddie Gaven had goals in both of the MetrosÆ defeats and has scored a goal in each of the last four games. à The Rapids have won three in a row. à Kansas City is unbeaten in its last six games. à The Fire has lost its last two games by shutout and is winless in the last four.