The Houston Dynamo ended their four-match winless run in the MLS as they defeated the Montreal Impact 3-0 at the BBVA Compass Stadium.
The home side took the lead in the 15th minute when Brad Davis lifted a free kick into the box from the left and Giles Barnes glanced a header past Evan Bush into the bottom corner.
The Impact tried to hit back and came close when Jack McInerney collected the ball 25 yards from goal and fired a strike on the half-volley which went just wide of the post.
Barnes was presented with an opportunity to double his tally when he raced onto Oscar Boniek's through-ball, but his attempted chip over Bush sailed over the bar.
In the second half, Barnes continued to probe as he raided forward to the edge of the area and drilled a low shot at goal which forced a save from Bush.
Montreal almost notched an equaliser when they won a free kick on the edge of the box. Patrice Bernier's effort sailed over the wall, but crashed off the bar with Tyler Deric beaten.
The Dynamo doubled their lead through Ricardo Clark as he latched onto Rob Lovejoy's pass into the box and maintained his composure to beat Bush from close range.
Lovejoy sealed his side's win in the 80th minute as he raided forward and lifted the ball over Bush into the top corner with an emphatic finish.
Simon Sinclair
