By Ridge Mahoney

In Week 5 of MLS 2003: D.C. plays another goalless tie but this one is a lot more promising — and vitrolic — than its dreary 0-0 with Chicago two weeks ago; the Quakes tough out another road win; the reeling Rapids and Revs lose again at home; and the Wizards squander yet another lead but pull out a 2-2 tie with the Crew.

BEST GOAL: Eric Quill's volley that he struck just above the ground and placed right inside the post in the 89th minute garnered a 2-2 for the Wizards against Columbus.

Also of note was Kyle Martino's first-time lob of a Tony Meola clearance.

BEST ASSIST: Craig Ziadie's swerving ball from the right flank dropped perfectly for Clint Mathis to head powerfully into the net and tie up the Metros and Rapids, 1-1.

BEST SAVES: Spectacular backward dives enabled Nick Rimando (on Antonio Martinez) and D.J. Countess (Marco Etcheverry) to deflect shots that were bending into the top corner during their engaging 0-0 tie.

FLUBS: Tim Howard's bobble when handcuffed by a low Zizi Roberts shot gifted the Rapids their goal. Counterpart Scott Vallow was just a yard off his line when he parried Craig Ziadie's shot into the net. Wizards defender Nick Garcia lost the ball to Jeff Cunningham, who fed it to Brian McBride for the first Crew goal.

BAD BREAKS: Dema Kovalenko's late, crunching tackle by which Burn midfielder Ronnie O'Brien suffered a broken leg is the second of Kovalenko's career.

Kovalenko was cautioned during the 1999 playoffs for a foul that resulted in a broken leg for Dallas defender Brandon Pollard. The league office reviewed the incident and ''upgraded'' Kovalenko's yellow card to a red.

Kovalenko was not cautioned or called for a foul for his tackle on O'Brien. The MLS Disciplinary Committee will review Saturday's incident.

STATS: The Quakes won just two of 14 road games last season. Their 2-0 defeat of New England Saturday was their second away win of 2003.

Road teams have won seven of 19 games (37 percent). Last year there were 41 away wins in 140 games (29 percent).

What's wildly out of whack are the ties. Nine of 19 games have ended tied (47 percent) as compared to 22 ties in 140 games (16 percent) in the 2002 regular season.