Jeff Cunningham - file

BRIDGEVIEW, Illinois (CMC)

Jamaica-born Jeff Cunningham registered two goals and an assist and steered FC Dallas to an impressive 4-1 road win over Chicago Fire in US Major League Soccer (MLS) on Sunday.

Cunningham scored in each half against the usually solid Chicago Defence as Dallas lifted themselves from the bottom of the Western Conference into fifth place with 30 points.

Just weeks after joining FC Dallas from Toronto FC, Cunningham opened the scoring quickly and stunned the home fans at Toyota Park.

Cunningham poked the ball past Jon Busch in Chicago's goal after Andre Rocha's free kick slipped through a cluster of players.

2-0 advantage

Two quick goals before the break gave Dallas a 3-0 half-time lead.

Aaron Pitchkolan scored in the 43rd minute for the 2-0 advantage and Bruno Guarda netted - on an assist from Cunningham - in the 45th minute.

That effort allowed Dallas to become the first team to score three goals against Chicago this season.

Cunningham made it 4-0 in the 61st minute when he out-sped opposing defender Lider Marmol as they chased a long Dallas clearance. Cunningham won the race and placed an easy shot past Busch for his seventh goal of the season.

The US international Brian McBride picked up a consolation goal for Chicago Fire in the 91st minute.

With the result, Dallas ended a five-game winless streak and restored their play-off hopes.

They are nine points off the leaders Houston (39) and a mere three behind second-place Chivas USA (33).

Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake are joint third on 31 points.

On Saturday, US international Landon Donovan struck three goals as David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy shot past DC United 5-2 at The Home Depot Centre to end LA's club record 12-game winless streak.

In other matches this weekend, Chivas USA beat Real Salt Lake 1-0, Colorado and New England Revs drew 1-1, and Kansas City Wizards shot past Toronto FC 2-0.

On Thursday, Eastern Conference front-runners Columbus Crew had beaten New York Red Bulls 3-1.