Benny Feilhaber struck two second-half goals as Sporting Kansas City ended a five-match winless streak by beating Dallas 3-1 at Sporting Park this morning.
Having lost four of their last five, the hosts came into the contest with a point to prove, but their mid-season woes were almost made worse when Michael Barrios went close within two minutes.
Peter Vermes's side slowly but surely improved, and Chance Myers saw his angled effort whistle past the upright midway through the opening half.
Kansas could and should have taken a half-time lead, but the usually reliable Dom Dwyer headed Graham Zusi's cross over the bar from a matter of yards on 38 minutes.
Dallas, who only fashioned two first-half shots, did little to improve after the break and Sporting continued to make all the running, with Zusi going close on two occasions.
It proved a sign of things to come, as Feilhaber broke the deadlock with a 65th-minute free kick, before converting a penalty 10 minutes later after Jesse Gonzalez fouled Dwyer.
However, Victor Ulloa threw the visitors a lifeline by beating Jon Kempin from outside the area with 10 minutes left, but Dwyer sealed the win shortly after as Kansas stopped the rot.