Houston Dynamo secured a 2-0 home win over San Jose Earthquakes thanks to strikes from Will Bruin and Giles Barnes.
The hosts took the lead in the 17th minute when Oscar Garcia raided down the right and beat his man before crossing for Bruin, who swept the ball into the net.
Houston were playing the better football and Jon Busch had to be alert when Ricardo Clark fired from distance, but his shot was comfortably held by the keeper.
Dynamo doubled their lead when Barnes rose to head Brad Davis's pinpoint cross past the on-rushing Busch.
After the break it could have been three for Houston but Bobby Boswell somehow missed the target with a free header after he latched onto Garcia's cross.
The visitors should have got back in the game when Cordell Cato whipped a ball across the face of goal, but Chris Wondolowski couldn't apply the finishing touch with the goal gaping.
San Jose pressed late on but Houston held out comfortably for the win.
Simon Sinclair
