By Ridge Mahoney Fans got a hefty dose of parity in Week 3 of the MLS season, with five teams getting their first wins of the season and five others tasting defeat for the first time. Yet only one of nine games ended in a tie.

The Western teams continue to hold sway, and the Galaxy and Seattle came back from disappointing defeats in Concacaf play to win their league games, but Eastern Conference contenders Houston and Sporting Kansas City won again to secure their spots in the top five.

The 17th season of Major League Soccer featured road wins for the top two Eastern Conference teams last year, Sporting Kansas City and Houston, and frustration elsewhere among the Eastern teams.

As was the case in 2011, five Eastern teams will make the playoffs, but under a revamped format no longer will teams cross over in the postseason for which Houston and Sporting Kansas City are the best bets.

A wave of goalscorers has been acquired by Western Conference teams, of which defending champ Los Angeles Galaxy still holds the strongest hand.