Chicago Fire secured a 3-2 win over the New England Revolution in a five-goal thriller, which saw the Revolution threaten to mount a second-half comeback. 

The game between the two playoff-chasing sides leapt into life as Chicago scored two in quick succession inside the opening 10 minutes, as Jonathan Bamba opened the scoring for the hosts, before Philip Zinckernagel doubled the lead. 

After the interval, Chicago netted their third, as Hugo Cuypers found the bottom left-hand corner to make it 3-0 in the 68th minute. 

While a late revival from the Revolution looked possible after Peyton Miller reduced the arrears in the 78th minute, before Carles Gil converted from the spot in stoppage time, New England had left it too late.

Chicago have now leapfrogged the New York Red Bulls to occupy ninth in the Eastern Conference. 

Meanwhile, in the West, second-half substitute Lucas Sanabria scored an equaliser for LA Galaxy in the ninth minute of injury time, having trailed Houston Dynamo 1-0 since the 35th minute. 

Despite Sanabria's goal keeping the Galaxy's playoff aspirations mathematically alive for another week, it is 10th-place Houston that will be kicking themselves having failed to make up ground on the sides above them. 

Elsewhere, FC Dallas and St Louis played out a 1-1 draw, with both sides wanting to extend their seasons and reach the playoffs. 

St Louis took the lead in the 32nd minute through Celio Pompeu, after Dallas had been reduced to 10 men 16 minutes earlier when goalkeeper Michael Collodi saw red. However, shortly after conceding, Dallas drew level via Petar Musa to keep them within touching distance of the playoff places. 

Data Debrief: Chicago picking up form 

With the start of the playoffs on the horizon, the Chicago Fire are beginning to pick up wins at the right time.

Chicago have now accumulated 10 points over their last four home matches, and have remained unbeaten in those games, winning three and drawing one. 

Gregg Berhalter's side have lost just one of their last seven games in MLS, winning four and drawing two.