NEW YORK CITY, USA (CMC) — Mixed fortunes but strong showings by Caribbean players headlined the MLS Western conference playoffs on the weekend.

On Saturday in Frisco, Texas, Jamaica-born Jeff Cunningham sparked the comeback for his FC Dallas outfit as they came from behind to edge fellow Reggae Boy Andy Williams and Real Salt Lake 2-1 in their semi-final at Pizza Hut Park.

Eric Espinosa had put the visitors ahead in the fourth minute before Cunningham removed the egg off the home side’s face with his 43rd minute item, with Eric Avila securing the win late when he netted three minutes from the final whistle.

Cunningham controlled a deflection off Real Salt Lake defender Jamison Olave near the edge of the 18-yard box before rifling a left-booter into the left corner of the net past Nick Rimando.

The 34-year-old Cunningham, who started on the bench, had entered in the 32nd minute after forward Milton Rodriguez left with a right groin injury.

There was no such glory for his teammate, St Kitts and Nevis’ Atiba Harris, who was shown a red card after he elbowed Real Salt Lake’s Will Johnson in the 75th minute, and will miss the second game of the series.

Real Salt Lake remained winless in nine matches all-time at Pizza Hut Park. The return leg is Saturday at Salt Lake.

On Sunday in Seattle, Reggae Boyz teammates Donovan Ricketts and Tyrone Marshall opposed each other as Ricketts’ LA Galaxy prevailed 1-0 over Marshall’s Seattle Sounders at Qwest Field.

Despite concerns over an injured shoulder, Ricketts kept goal with little incident as he finished with a clean sheet, pulling off eight saves.

Edson Buddle’s turn-and-volley right-booter from distance bettered Sounders’ shot-stopper Kasey Keller in the 37th to prove the deciding moment of the match.

Marshall came off the bench for Jeff Parke just after the hour mark after the 28-year-old American severely twisted his left ankle.

The 35-year-old Marshall’s presence ignited a last ditch effort from the Sounders, as he thwarted the few counter attacks and spark-plugged most of the Seattle attacks with accurate long distance passes.

Los Angeles host the second game in the home-and-away, aggregate-goals series next Sunday in Carson, California.