Mired in a demoralizing slump and desperate to resuscitate their fading campaign, D.C. United finally put together a winning performance on Saturday night, showing grit and resolve to defeat Toronto FC 3-2 at RFK Stadium for their third league victory of the year.
Paced by a man-of-the-match display from Jaime Moreno and a slump-breaking gamewinner from Luciano Emilio, United twice came from behind and eventually captured a hard-won victory to snap their four-game losing streak. TFC striker Danny Dichio scored two goals in defeat.
Embattled United coach Tom Soehn kept with the same 4-4-2 shape and identical starting lineup from Wednesday night's 1-0 setback in Toronto, while his opposite number John Carver followed suit with TFC's first XI as the Reds looked to continue their six-game unbeaten run.
Mindful of their team's four-game losing skid, United's Barra Brava supporters' group provided a forceful display of support -- and perhaps an urgent appeal -- to the squad in the moments before kickoff, producing a massive banner urging D.C. to "Fight For Our Colors" above a sea of black, red and white flags.
The home side finally got forward with some conviction in the 11th minute as Fred's crafty backheel earned a corner off Marvell Wynne and Jaime Moreno saw his low shot deflected just wide of goal shortly after the set piece.
But after a brief attacking flurry by United, Toronto raced back the other way and drew first blood with surprising ease. Laurent Robert rewarded TFC captain Jim Brennan for his aggressive run down the left channel with a defense-splitting pass and the left back duly clipped a tidy cross over United 'keeper Zach Wells and into the goalmouth, where Danny Dichio nodded home from close range -- his second goal in as many games.
After seeming shellshocked for some time after the goal, United were finally looking dangerous in the attacking third and after a fluid passing move in the 28th minute TFC netminder Greg Sutton was called upon to make a sharp block of Moreno's blast from 19 yards out, then was helped by Wynne's deflection of Emilio's scuffed effort on the rebound as the Reds scrambled to clear their lines.
The home team threatened again in the 35th minute when Gallardo rode Guevara's challenge before unleashing a knuckling blast that was too hot for Sutton to handle -- the Canadian international palmed it away from goal but was nearly punished as Namoff ran onto the loose ball and hammered a half-volley just high and wide.
D.C. finally broke through in the 41st minute, scoring their first goal in more than two hours of play as a leaping McTavish flicked Moreno's delivery toward the back post, where Gonzalo Peralta stooped to head home his first goal in a United uniform.
The equalizer lifted Black-and-Red spirits dramatically -- both on the field and in the stands -- and four minutes later Clyde Simms almost grabbed a second tally for his team in the half's dying moments as he capped an intricate passing sequence with a low first-time shot destined for the lower corner of goal, only for Sutton make a superb reaction save.
But United's newfound confidence sustained a devastating blow mere seconds later as Dichio burned them again to restore Toronto's advantage. The big target man exchanged passes with Guevara at the top of the D.C. box before taking advantage of the yards of space given to him by the defense with a well-aimed, side-footed shot that skipped past Wells and nestled just inside the left-hand post.
Despite the 2-1 deficit, United began the second half with renewed vigor. McTavish got into the attack some seven minutes after the break and earned his side a dangerous set piece. Gallardo stepped up to the dead ball and belted a dipping blast past Sutton, only to watch in frustration as it caromed off the crossbar and out of play.
United took a stranglehold on possession and probed the TFC defense constantly as the second period unfolded, but time after time found the finishing touch lacking as Sutton patrolled his area with authority.
Controversy erupted in the 67th minute when Emilio seemed to have drawn D.C. level, racing in to hammer home the rebound after Sutton had palmed Moreno's shot away, but the home crowd was dismayed to see the linesman standing with his flag raised, as Moreno had strayed offside at the play's outset.
But the Black-and-Red kept pushing and five minutes later earned the second equalizer they'd been seeking so desperately. Quaranta hustled into the box behind Wynne and though the sharp angle meant the D.C. winger's options were limited, he earned a penalty kick as the young TFC right back rashly knocked him to the turf with Gonzalez well-positioned to spot the infraction.
As usual, Moreno stepped up to the spot kick and sent Sutton the wrong way, driving his finish into the right side of the net to level matters at 2-2. The Bolivian's goal incited wild celebrations among the RFK faithful as it brought long-awaited relief from the pain and pressure of United's losing streak.
The euphoria reached a crescendo barely two minutes later when a TFC turnover allowed Quaranta and his mates to race forward again -- and after a second's consideration the Baltimore native elected to launch a dipping shot from 20 yards out.
Sutton was well-placed to stop the stinging drive but he palmed it down onto the turf and looked up in dismay as the hard-charging Emilio arrived to poke it past him into the net for a sudden 3-2 United advantage, the home side's first lead of the night. The Brazilian wheeled away in delirium to rejoice over his first goal in nearly two months.
Toronto fought back gamely, however, creating danger with several set pieces and corner kicks. Guevara boomed a deep, searching ball into the D.C. box that left Wells frozen on his line as Jarrod Smith stabbed Dichio's layoff just over the crossbar. Then defending a TFC corner kick, Peralta nearly gave the home fans a collective heart attack when his header looped backwards and flew inches over his own crossbar.
On the ensuing corner kick the Reds threw everyone -- including Sutton -- into the D.C. box and chaos ensued as the ball took several deflections around the danger area before the home side finally lumped clear. Spotting his linesman's raised flag, Gonzalez trotted over and conferred briefly before brandishing a red card in Robert's direction, apparently for a serious foul somewhere in the goalmouth turmoil.
The referee finally blew for full time shortly after, handing a badly-needed victory to Soehn's side and snapping Toronto's unbeaten run.
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
