Steven Gerrard slotted home a long rebound and the LA Galaxy beat the visiting Houston Dynamo 1-0.
The Galaxy continued to move up Major League Soccer's Western Conference table after injuries and international duties for some players saw Bruce Arena's team get off to a somewhat slow start.
Gerrard, 36, was in the right place when a Robbie Keane shot following a long pass over the Houston defense was deflected off Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Willis and the former Liverpool player finished in style from 18 yards out.
The loss piled on to Houston's struggles so far this season, with the team sitting on a West-low 18 points in dead last.