Tim Cahill helps Red Bulls knock off Dynamo

Red Bulls' Tim Cahill beats Real Salt Lake's Yordany Alvarez... — Red Bulls' Tim Cahill beats Real Salt Lake's Yordany Alvarez to the ball in the first half of an MLS soccer match. (July 27, 2013) Credit: AP

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSOctober 21, 2013

HOUSTON -- Tim Cahill scored the fastest goal in MLS history, and the Red Bulls beat the Houston Dynamo 3-0 on Sunday to extend their unbeaten streak to seven games.

The Red Bulls (16-9-8) took over first place in the Eastern Conference and has the best record in the league with one game remaining. Houston's five-game unbeaten streak was snapped, and the Dynamo (13-11-9) are sixth in the East with one game remaining. The top five teams in each conference make the playoffs.

Cahill put the Red Bulls ahead 8 seconds into the game, getting a pass from Dax McCarty, heading it forward and sending a blast from outside the upper right box to inside the near post.

The previous fastest goal in MLS history was Dwayne De Rosario's score 11 seconds into a 2003 game.

The Red Bulls extended the lead to 2-0 in the 65th minute. After Houston goalkeeper Tally Hall batted a ball away, Peguy Luyindula headed it back into the box and Ibrahim Sekagya converted another header for the goal.

Second-half substitute Bradley Wright-Phillips closed out the scoring in the 75th minute. He almost had another one in the 90th minute, but his header went off the cross bar.

Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles made a solid stop on Will Bruin's shot in the first half, preserving a 1-0 lead.