Columbus Crew have started life under Brian Bliss with a deserved 2-0 win at home to Houston Dynamo.
Goals from Ryan Finley and Jason Meram sealed all three points in Ohio, which means that Dominic Kinnear's men have missed the chance to go fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference.
It was the visitors who nearly took the lead in the opening minute of the game, when a mistake from Eric Gehrig allowed Will Bruin in on goal. However, Chad Barson raced back to clear off the line after the striker had rounded goalkeeper keeper Matt Lampson.
Dominic Oduro also found some space in behind the Dynamo's defence, but the quick thinking of Tally Hall prevented the Ghanaian international from breaking the deadlock in the 33rd minute.
The teams went in goalless at the break but it did not take long after the restart for the first goal of the evening.
In contrast to the first period, it was the home side who made the stronger start to the second half, as some early pressure resulted in Meram supplying Ryan to lash home from inside the area.
Dynamo defender Kofi Sarkodie was needed to clear Chad Marshall's effort off the line in the 57th minute as the Crew continued to press for a killer goal.
The hosts' pressure finally brought reward in the 74th minute, as Meram swooped to finish Finlay's scuffed shot having crashed a effort off the crossbar just moments earlier.
Victory sees the hosts end their two-game losing run and inch themselves to within three points of seventh-placed Chicago Fire.
Michael Penkman
