Fire cruise to 3-0 win over DC United

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Chicago Fire vaulted into the fifth and final playoff spot in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference with a 3-0 win over struggling D.C. United on Friday.

Jeff Larentowicz and Bakary Soumare scored in the first half and Quincy Amarikwa had a goal in the second half for the Fire, who moved past Philadelphia, Columbus, and New England into the fifth spot in the standings with three games left to play in the season.

United are now winless in their last nine league games and were unable to carry over any momentum after winning the U.S. Open Cup for the third time in club history during the week.

In the night's only other game, the Houston Dynamo held on for a 1-0 win over the Montreal Impact, extending their unbeaten streak to four games.

Ricardo Clark scored in the sixth minute with a right-footer from 25 yards out.

Houston moved one point ahead of Montreal for third place in the Eastern Conference.