Austin FC claimed their fourth consecutive win in the MLS and top spot in the Western Conference, defeating cross-state rivals Houston Dynamo 3-1 on Tuesday.

Second-half goals from Maximiliano Urruti and Alexander Ring handed the three points to Josh Wolff's side, who now momentarily sit atop the West on 40 points, a point ahead of Los Angeles FC who have a game in hand.

High-profile signing Hector Herrera was unable to inspire another second-half fightback for the Dynamo in his starting debut, after coming on as a substitute in their 2-2 draw against FC Dallas in Saturday's Texas derby.

With the score locked at 1-1, Urruti broke the tight game open in the 57th minute, finely curling the ball around Steve Clark first time after a quick regain of possession.

Ring secured the win with a lovely team move in the 70th minute, with the midfielder attacking the penalty area to meet Ethan Finlay's cross after Austin played their way out from a goal-kick.

Austin now have the chance to take the Copa Tejas if they defeat the Toros on Saturday, with competition for the trophy coinciding with their introduction to the MLS in 2021.

Austin FC momentarily moved to the top of the Western Conference in the MLS, securing a 3-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.

A Maximiliano Urruti double within the opening half-hour put Austin in a commanding position at the interval, but they struggled in the second half, giving up eight shots to three despite 62.3 per cent of possession.

Sebastian Driussi clinched the result for Josh Wolff's side in the 68th minute, though, getting on the end of a flick-on from Nick Lima's long-throw at the back post to head home.

Austin have now gone five games undefeated in the league, bouncing back from Wednesday's elimination at the hands of San Antonio FC in the US Open Cup.

They remain a point ahead of the Los Angeles Galaxy, who scraped a 1-0 win at home to Nashville via Dejan Joveljic's winner in the 86th minute. Real Salt Lake slipped up away to Portland Timbers, playing out a goalless draw.

There were also goalless draws between Sporting KC and Columbus Crew, and Colorado Rapids and Charlotte FC.

They were leapfrogged by FC Dallas, who claimed their fourth win of the season with a 2-1 win over Houston Dynamo.

They left it very late in the Texan derby after Sabastian Ferreira's opener for Dynamo in the 33rd minute, only equalising in the 87th minute through Tsiki Ntsabeleng.

Facundo Quignon claimed the three points for the Toros, lurking unmarked at the back post from a corner to score in the third minute of injury time.

Philadelphia Union remained top of the Eastern Conference despite a 1-1 draw at home to Montreal CF, giving the impetus to Orlando City and New York RB to make up ground on Sunday.

San Jose Earthquakes moved from the bottom of the Western Conference with a shock 4-3 win over the Seattle Sounders. Cristian Espinoza scored the winner for his hat-trick in the fourth minute of injury time via the penalty spot.

In Saturday's other results, Minnesota FC defeated Chicago Fire 3-0, while DC United claimed a 3-2 win over New England Revolution.

Jordy Alcivar scored a goal of the season contender to give Charlotte an important win at home on Sunday, defeating Atlanta United 1-0.

Alcivar caught Brad Guzan napping in the Atlanta goal in the 11th minute, spectacularly curling his right-footed corner into the far post for an Olimpico.

Having lost to Atlanta in March and following their defeat to Philadelphia Union the week prior, Miguel Angel Ramirez's side needed to regain momentum and not lose early ground in the Eastern Conference.

Alcivar's early goal provided an ideal platform, with Charlotte also now stopping their opponents from scoring a first-half goal in five of their opening seven games of the MLS season.

It was their third victory in as many games where they have led at the interval, moving to fifth in the East on nine points.

In Sunday's second and final game, Austin moved to within two points of LAFC at the top of the Western Conference, following a 1-0 win over Minnesota United.

It started slowly at Q2 Stadium, with an extremely passive first half providing only two shots in total over the opening 45 minutes.

Maxi Urruti's goal in the 58th minute eventually proved to be winner, with Minnesota generating a low cumulative xG of 0.47 from eight shots in the second half.

Austin's defensive solidity is the base their play has been built upon in their second season, with only FC Dallas conceding fewer goals than them so far in the Western Conference.

Josh Wolff's side has now secured three wins and two draws in six games, adding to a logjam at the top of the West, with only three points separating the top seven sides.