New York Red Bulls defeated the Montreal Impact 1-0 at Red Bull Arena on Saturday night to clinch a play-off spot.
Daniel Royer's downward header from Chris Duvall's cross found its way past Evan Bush on the hour mark to guarantee the Red Bulls a seventh straight post-season appearance.
The result extended the Red Bull's unbeaten run to 13 games and put them level on points with Toronto FC and New York City FC at the Eastern Conference summit, with all three teams now through to the MLS Cup play-offs.
Justin Morrow's second-half equaliser secured Toronto FC a 1-1 draw against the Philadelphia Union after Alejandro Bedoya had given the visitors the lead with a brilliant 25th-minute chip at BMO Field.
FC Dallas remained atop the MLS Supporters' Shield standings after a 0-0 draw with Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium, with RSL still looking safe in the Western Conference play-off places.
DC United boosted their post-season chances with a 4-1 rout of 10-man Orlando City.
Patrick Mullins notched two goals - one either side of Lloyd Sam's effort - to put the home team in total control, and the visitors' task was made all the more tricky by the 66th-minute dismissal of Antonio Nocerino for elbowing Mullins in the chest.
Orlando did pull one back four minutes later through Julio Baptista's fine 70th-minute free-kick, but DC substitute Julian Buesche restored the three-goal cushion late on.
Sporting Kansas City also improved their play-off prospects with a 2-1 triumph over the San Jose Earthquakes, which was sealed when defender Kevin Ellis back-heeled home a corner on 81 minutes.
Dom Dwyer's close-range header had put Sporting ahead in the seventh minute, only for Simon Dawkins to tap in an equaliser three minutes before half-time.
The Portland Timbers' play-off hopes suffered a blow as they went down 3-1 to struggling Houston. Mauro Manotas bagged a hat-trick for the Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium, the first from the penalty spot and then two neat finishes in the final 18 minutes after Diego Valeri (51) had restored parity.
Erik Hurtado's scrappy last-gasp goal salvaged a dramatic 3-3 draw for the 10-man Vancouver Whitecaps at home to the Colorado Rapids.
The visitors took the lead on three occasions in Canada, through Dominique Badji (eight), Shkelzen Gashi's penalty (57), and Gashi again 15 minutes from time with a superb free-kick.
But the Whitecaps got back on level terms through a 51st-minute header from Kendall Waston - who was sent off five minutes later for fouling Badji to concede the spot-kick - and Pedro Morales (70), before Hurtado's stoppage-time intervention following a hopeful ball into the box made sure the match finished all square.
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