Washington, D.C. (My Sportsbook) - The San Jose Earthquakes chances at a playoff spot in the upcoming Major League Soccer playoffs are on life support, but a 2-1 win on Sunday afternoon at D.C. United kept the doctors from pulling the plug.

The 'Quakes (6-12-7) got second-half goals from Ramon Sanchez and Ryan Johnson to earn the important victory and stretch their unbeaten run to three games. San Jose now has five games left to earn a spot in the league's top eight.

D.C. United (8-7-12) suffered a devastating blow by giving up three points at home. The loss pushes United out of the top eight, meaning it has some work to do over its final three games to make the playoffs.

United opened the scoring on Sunday when veteran striker Jaime Moreno got on the end of a Chris Pontius feed in the San Jose penalty area and fired a left- footed half-volley into the net for his eighth goal of the season.

That was how the score stayed until San Jose equalized in the 58th minute on a Sanchez free kick. Sanchez took the chance from straight away, 20-yards out, and bent a perfect kick into the top right corner for his second goal of the season.

The 'Quakes got the winner from Johnson in the 78th minute after a long-range shot at the D.C. net was deflected off the crossbar by defender Clyde Simms. Johnson pounced on the rebound, diving to head it into the open net for his ninth goal of the season.

San Jose will try to continue its playoff push when it travels to New York on Saturday, while D.C. will aim to rebound vs. Chivas USA earlier the same night in its next MLS fixture.