Second-half substitute Will Bruin scored in the 79th minute to send the Houston Dynamo to their first win in nearly a month, a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night.
Houston (9-9-12, 39 points) remains in a tie for third in the Eastern Conference with Philadelphia after the Union won 1-0 against Columbus. It was the Dynamo's first win since a 3-2 victory over Real Salt Lake on Aug. 20.
San Jose (6-11-11, 29 points) remained eighth in the Western Conference, trailing New York and Portland by seven points in the hunt for the final wild card spot.
Bruin, who entered in the 74th minute, scored on a left-footed goal from about 10 yards out that went inside the far post after Luiz Camargo sent a cross from the right sideline. It was Bruin's first goal since he had a hat trick against D.C. United on April 29.
Khari Stephenson gave San Jose a 1-0 lead in the 40th minute after Steven Beitashour crossed a pass to the center of the box and Stephenson right-footed it in from the penalty area into the lower left corner.
Brad Davis tied the score in the 47th after sending a penalty kick just past a diving Jon Busch and into the lower right corner of the net. Davis earned the penalty in the 46th minute after getting tripped up in the box by Bobby Burling.
