[MLS] Stripped of starters by suspension and U.S. World Cup training camp, the unbeaten Crew and Galaxy nevertheless won on the road Thursday night to preserve their unbeaten records. Here are three stars from those two games ...

1. EDDIE GAVEN (Columbus)

In the absence of the suspended Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Coach Robert Warzycha used dual holding midfielders in Brian Carroll and Adam Moffat, with attacking duties handled by wide mids Gaven and Emmanuel Ekpo, who replaced Robbie Rogers, away with defender Chad Marshall at U.S. camp.

Gaven got on the end of a Frankie Hejduk cross to head home the first goal in the 35th minute, and four minutes later swung over the corner kick that defender Andy Iro headed powerfully into the net to give the Crew a 2-0 lead. Columbus survived three New York shots off the woodwork to post a 3-1 victory that improved its mark to 5-0-2 and sent it into first place past the Red Bulls (5-4-0), who lost their third in a row.

2. MIKE MAGEE (Los Angeles)

Magee not only netted the only goal of a 1-0 Galaxy victory over FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park, a la the absent Edson Buddle, he also played a role in creating several other chances, as per Landon Donovan. Magee’s energy and touches set up shots for Todd Dunivant and Michael Stephens during a first-half onslaught that he punctuated by breaking away on a Galaxy counter to put away a square pass from Tristen Bowen, who had stayed just on-side before chasing down a ball from Chris Klein that breached the FCD back line.