By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor

America's hardest-working team earns another week by putting in some overtime; Los Angeles takes round one against San Jose by knockout; Revs win again in Jersey; Colorado is scorched by a raging Fire; and Kansas City edges Dallas to move into second.

HERO: During the D.C.-Crew telecast, Columbus coach Greg Andrulis said of a flu-ridden Brian McBride, ''He's a warrior.''

McBride came off the bench to put away a penalty kick and then head home the winning goal late in overtime for a dramatic 3-2 win that kept Columbus alive in the playoff hunt.

FACT: The Crew can only qualify for the postseason if D.C. loses at home to Kansas City Saturday and Columbus beats Chicago on Sunday. The teams would be tied with 38 points and Columbus would win the tiebreaker in head-to-head meetings, 2-1-1.

BEST GOALS: In a very tight vote among numerous spectacular strikes, Colorado's Zizi Roberts gets the nod for his thunderous shot for the Rapids' second goal in their 4-3 loss to Chicago.

Roberts tracked a long, crossfield ball from John Spencer as it floated over the Fire back line, let it drop, and then blasted it into the top far corner for the first of his two goals.

Chris Armas' left-footed rip in stoppage time proved to the winner of an incredible match. DaMarcus Beasley dribbled through numerous opponents before drilling home the Fire's third goal.

STAT: Armas and Roberts weren't alone in scoring twice. Also doubly on the board were McBride and Alejandro Moreno of the Galaxy, whose pair led the Galaxy past the Quakes, 3-0, in the first of their four consecutive meetings. They play again in San Jose next Saturday to conclude the regular season and are paired in the playoffs.

Pat Noonan stripped Steve Jolley in midfield and outpaced him to fire a shot over Metros keeper Jonny Walker in the Revs' 2-1 victory. He has scored four of his seven goals this season against the Metros.

FACT: The Revs won both games in the Meadowlands this season and hold an unassailable 2-0-1 lead in the head-to-head tiebreaker. The teams are tied for second place with 42 points; if they tie at Gillette Stadium Saturday, the Revs would take second place and homefield advantage by virtue of the tiebreaker.

BEST ASSISTS: A Hail Mary lob from midfield by Jose Alegria was headed into the net by Mike Petke six minutes into stoppage time to send the D.C.-Crew match into OT, during which Alex Pineda Chacon's chip to the far post dropped for McBride to head in the winner.

Wizards' defender Jim Conrad headed in a perfect corner kick from Preki for the only goal in a 1-0 Kansas City defeat of Dallas.

STAT: Preki's assist was his league-leading 17th of the season.

FACT: Kansas City moved into second place and leads Colorado by one point with one game to play, although the Rapids would win the head-to-head tiebreaker 2-1-1.

BEST SAVES: Crew keeper Jon Busch stoned United forward Thiago Martins on a breakaway to keep the United-Crew match tied, 1-1. New England goalie Matt Reis repelled a point-blank shot by John Wolyniec and teammate Jay Heaps headed Amado Guevara's follow-up effort off the goal line in the Revs' victory.

WORST MOMENTS: Petke headed a back pass that easily beat keeper Doug Warren and rolled toward an empty goal. Brian West slammed it into the net from a yard out for the first Crew goal.

Hristo Stoitchkov threw his arms in the air and fell to his knees upon being touched by Mark Williams to earn a penalty kick he converted for the first D.C. goal.