Kevin Doyle secures victory for Colorado Rapids with winning goal

Kevin Doyle scored the winner as Colorado Rapids defeated Owen Coyle's Houston Dynamo side 2-1 in MLS on Wednesday night.

Irish striker Doyle struck 11 minutes from the end to give his side their second win in a row after three consecutive defeats and leave Houston without a victory in as many games.

The sides traded first-half penalties before the former Wolves star intervened, and it was Colorado who also netted first.

Houston defender Alex was ruled to have handled after 20 minutes as he challenged Vicente Sanchez, who then stepped up to convert from 12 yards.

The Texans were level 10 minutes before the break when another handball in the box, this time from Bobby Burling, was punished as Brad Davis shot right down the middle.

But Colorado wouldn't be denied and they sealed their success late on when Doyle headed in a cross from former Preston defender Sean St Ledger.

Rapids remain bottom of the Western Conference but they are still only five points off the play-off places with a game in hand over Real Salt Lake and Houston directly above them.

In the other game of the night, Chicago Fire brought New York Red Bulls' six-match unbeaten run to an end as they beat them 3-2.

Sacha Kljestan gave Red Bulls the lead after 10 minutes with a penalty but Kennedy Igboananike levelled midway through the first half when he finished low after Gilberto's pass.

Michael Stephens then set up Patrick Nyarko as he put Chicago in front just before the break but Ronald Zubar restored parity again shortly after the restart.

The hosts were not to be denied, however, and Igboananike netted again 17 minutes from the end to secure only Chicago's seventh win of the campaign.

They are bottom of the Eastern Conference and they keep their faint play-off hopes alive, while Red Bulls remain in a strong position in second.

They are five points behind leaders DC United but they do have three games in hand over the Washington side.

In the CONCACAF Champions League, meanwhile, Seattle Sounders lost 1-0 to Honduran side Olimpia in their Group F fixture.

Alberth Elis' goal after an hour condemned them to their first defeat of the competition. Seattle face fellow MLS team Vancouver Whitecaps in their last pool game on September 23