Matias Perez Garcia struck an 87th-minute winner as San Jose Earthquakes beat a brave Real Salt Lake 1-0 to maintain their hopes of reaching the MLS Cup.
The hosts dominated the opening stages but it took some 21 minutes for them to threaten when Quincy Amarikwa's rocket inside the box was beaten away by Nick Rimando.
San Jose continued to threaten, and it was Amarikwa again as the striker headed over the bar from inside the six-yard box just before the half-hour mark.
The visitors, who managed one shot in the first 45 minutes, survived a pre-half time onslaught, but it was nearly in vain as Chris Wondolowski was denied from point-blank range by Rimando after the break.
At the other end, the visitors finally threatened when David Bingham pulled off a smart save to keep out Joao Plata with 13 minutes left on the clock.
It proved a pivotal moment in the contest as Garcia drilled home from outside the box in timely fashion, before picking up a second yellow card due to his celebration, but the hosts held on.
The result sees the Earthquakes move seventh in the Western Conference, two points adrift of a top-five spot with three games left on their calendar.
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