Nana Attakora and Chad Barrett each scored in the first half, and Toronto FC beat Chivas USA 2-1 on Saturday to extend its home unbeaten streak to 10 games.
Toronto (7-6-5) struck first in the 21st minute. Dan Gargan whipped a strong throw into the box to find fellow defender Attakora, who headed the ball past Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy for his first goal of the season.
The Reds struck again 11 minutes later. Forward Maicon Santos, who looked dangerous early in his first game against Chivas since being released by the team in July, flicked the ball past two defenders to Barrett, who scored his sixth goal of the year.
Chivas (5-10-3) scored in the 65th minute when defender Adrian Cann was called for a handball in the Toronto box. Giancarlo Maldonado took the penalty shot and put the ball past Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei to cut the lead to 2-1.
It was the only goal conceded by Frei, who made several spectacular diving saves to maintain Toronto's lead, including two lunges against Chivas forward Justin Braun.
Santos hurt his knee shortly after the second half began in a scrum near the Chivas net. He briefly returned, only to limp back off and be replaced by Miguel Angel Ferrer Martinez.
It was an important three points for Toronto, which holds the eighth and final playoff spot despite winning just one of its previous seven MLS matches. Chivas, meanwhile, remain last in the Western Conference after having its four-game unbeaten streak snapped.
Toronto coach Predrag (Preki) Radosavljevic spent three seasons coaching Chivas before taking the job in Toronto this season.
