A hat-trick from Houston Dynamo rookie Will Bruin was the highlight of MLS' Week 7 which again produced a host of surprise results.
The 21-year old former Indiana University star, who was picked up with the 11th selection in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, showed why there are such big wraps on him with a trio of neat finishes in the Dynamo's 4-1 home win over DC United.
The first came in just the 4th minute when he received a perfect through ball from Geoff Cameron before slotting it past DC keeper Bill Hamid before the visitors responded through Marc Burch six minutes before half-time.
But Bruin was on the spot to make it 2-1 just a couple of minutes later when he headed home Brad Davis' sublime cross from the left before completing his hat-trick just before the hour-mark with another header from a Davis free-kick.
Cam Weaver wrapped up proceedings in the 62nd minute with Houston's fourth as they climbed to third on the Eastern Conference table.
In other MLS matches, Philadelphia Union defeated San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 at home despite having ten man for just over half the match, Luke Rodgers scored again as New York Red Bulls went top in the East with a 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City at home whilst Emilio Renteria netted a brace to help Columbus Crew to a 2-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps.
Reigning champions Colorado Rapids responded after going a goal down at home to Chicago Fire by scoring a leveler to draw 1-1, Seattle Sounders put aside the disappointment of losing Steve Zakuani for the season by cruising past Toronto FC 3-0 with help from a Brad Evans double, Kenny Cooper netted for Portland Timbers as they won their third match in a row at home with a 1-0 result over Real Salt Lake, Chivas USA did the job at The Home Depot Center with a 3-0 triumph over New England Revolution whilst their Los Angeles counterparts, LA Galaxy, lost 2-1 at last season's runners-up FC Dallas thanks to a late Brek Shea winner.
2011 MLS season - Week 7 scores
Houston Dynamo: 4 (Will Bruin 4'/41'/57, Cam Waver 62') DC United: 1 (Marc Burch 39') Robertson Stadium, Houston TX - 20,577
Philadelphia Union: 1 (Sebastian Le Toux (p) 76', red card - Jordan Harvey 41') San Jose Earthquakes: 0 PPL Park, Chester, PA - 18,279
New York Red Bulls: 1 (Luke Rodgers 22') Sporting Kansas City: 0 Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ - 20,636
Columbus Crew: 2 (Emilio Renteria (p) 50'/59') Vancouver Whitecaps: 1 (Omar Salgado 69') Crew Stadium, Columbus, OH - 11,298
Colorado Rapids: 1 (Andre Akpan 49') Chicago Fire: 1 (Marco Pappa 43') Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO - 11,789
Seattle Sounders: 3 (Alvaro Fernandez 9', Brad Evans 52'/75') Toronto FC: 0 Qwest Field, Seattle, WA - 36,287
Portland Timbers: 1 (Kenny Cooper 22') Real Salt Lake: 0 JELD-WEN Field, Portland, OR - 18,627
Chivas USA: 3 (Nick LaBrocca 22', Marcos Mondaini 45', Alejandro Moreno 57') New England Revolution: 0 Home Depot Center, Carson, CA - 14,058
FC Dallas: 2 (Fabian Castillo 47', Brek Shea 88') LA Galaxy: 1 (Landon Donovan 51') Pizza Hut Park, Frisco TX - 21,867
