the 1,000th of his MLS career. Only two others -- Scott Garlick and Tony Meola -- have had more in their MLS careers.
• The Wizards opened the scoring in the 44th minute with another long-range goal. Eddie Johnson ran down a ball in the right corner, and after holding up, laid it back for Scott Sealy coming on from behind. The Trinidadian stroked a first-time shot low inside the left-hand post for his third goal in as many games.
• But Gomez had the final answer. Receiving a pass from left back Marc Burch with his back to goal in the 56th minute, he was able to turn defender Tyson Wahl and crack a quick blast inside the near post for his eighth goal on the year and keep United on track for the MLS Supporters' Shield.
• Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo made three changes to the team that lost 2-1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy the previous Saturday. Jimmy Conrad and Davy Arnaud were both suspended, so Tyson Wahl came into the back four and Kurt Morsink came into the midfield. Scott Sealy also returned to the team, for Eloy Colombano.
• Here's Onalfo's team (4-3-1-2): Kevin Hartman - Jack Jewsbury, Nick Garcia, Tyson Wahl, Michael Harrington - Kurt Morsink, Kerry Zavagnin, Jose Burciaga Jr. (Eloy Colombano 66) - Carlos Marinelli (Ryan Pore 71) - Eddie Johnson, Scott Sealy. Substitutes Not Used: Aaron Hohlbein, Will John, Eric Kronberg, Ryan Raybould, Lance Watson
• "I don't think we had a great performance the entire game. It really showed that we were missing three key players to our team," said Onalfo. "It took us a while to get a rhythm, [but] we gritted it; we fought hard. I would have liked to have three points, but I'll take a point."
TEAM NEWS
• Hartman was sharp as he kept D.C. midfielders Christian Gomez and Devon McTavish off the board with point-blank saves in the first and fourth minutes. Hartman's first save put him in elite company becoming only the third MLS goalkeeper to accumulate 1,000 saves in his career.
• "Especially in the very beginning of the game, he kept us in there. We don't want to concede a goal early on. He was alert and made some big saves. That goes to shows where his veteran leadership comes in -- making big plays when you need them," said second-year center back Tyson Wahl, who filled in for Conrad.
• The Wizards attack finished with 12 shots on the night, yet only three on goal. "We need to put teams away and stop letting them be in the game so long because all it's going to do [lead to] one mistake, and they're right back in it," said Jose Burciaga Jr.
• The Wizards can secure their place in the MLS Cup Playoffs with a victory against the Red Bulls, or a tie at Giants Stadium as long as both Los Angeles and Colorado fail to win.
• "It seems like we have been playing great all year, and especially in the last three games," said Michael Harrington. "We are due for a win; I think everyone believes we can finish the season out strong by taking the next two games."
• A year ago, the Wizards went to New York for the final game of the season, knowing a positive result would send them into the playoffs. But behind an Amado Guevara hat trick, the Red Bulls won 3-2 and moved into fourth place in the Eastern Conference ahead of the Wizards.
• "It's going to come down to the wire; that's just the way this stuff is. We just played D.C. United, who is arguably the best team in the league. We had a 1-0 lead, and it would have been nice to hang on to it and get the three points, and we didn't," said Onalfo. "We can't worry about that now, we just have to worry about our next two games and find ways to continue to get points and make sure we get into the playoffs."
