D.C. United 2, FC Dallas 1
After registering his first point of the season two weeks ago with an assist that made him the first player in Major League Soccer history to have at least 100 goals and 100 assists, D.C. United forward Jaime Moreno played down the achievement, preferring to focus on the result.
But Saturday night, when Moreno, flanked by the D.C.-based portion of his family, was honored for his latest feat prior to scoring both goals in a 2-1 win over FC Dallas, the 35-year-old Bolivian veteran was genuinely reflective afterward.
“It’s pretty emotional,” said Moreno. “It’s special when things like this don’t happen very often, when unfortunately, I don’t have my parents here. But I know that they’re watching me, and they’re as happy as I am. I know my mom’s praying pays off so I’m really pleased the way things are going.”
What his parents back home in South America missed, and what the 14,225 at RFK Stadium saw firsthand, was Moreno return to the starting lineup a week after sitting out last weekend with a heel injury and put in a vintage performance even before he settled Bryan Namoff’s long ball at the top of the box, beating Dallas goalkeeper Ray Burse with a left-footed shot to tie the score, 1-1, in the 56th minute.
Ten minutes later Christian Gómez, who came on as a substitute immediately after D.C.’s first goal, put Moreno through once more. This time MLS’ all-time leading scorer executed a deft chip over the onrushing Burse for the game-winner and his 124th career goal.
“The composure to come down the middle and get [Burse] to lay down and chip over him,” said United head coach Tom Soehn, “that’s just – not too many guys in our league can do that, and he’s done that for years.”
Combined with 1-1 ties between Chicago and Seattle, and Columbus and Toronto, the victory put United (3-1-3, 12 points) in a tie with the Canadians for first place in the Eastern Conference.
Dallas (1-5-1) remained on the bottom of the Western Conference despite taking a surprising lead in the first half when Andre Rocha headed in Dave van den Bergh’s 28th minute corner kick.
“There wasn’t any frustration [at halftime],” said Namoff, sporting a face full of cuts he said came from Dallas defender Marcelo Saragosa’s fingernails. “I think that’s a credit from the week before, it just shows you the perseverance of this team right now. We didn’t hold our heads down at halftime or anything. We were confident to say we’re getting our chances, and as soon as we put the first one away, we’re going to change things around.”
Once D.C. went back in front, 6-foot-3 forward Kenny Cooper led the visitors in harassing D.C. United rookie goalkeeper Milos Kocic – in his first regular-season start – with a succession of crosses and long-range efforts but finished the match with just three shots on goal.
“They tried with long balls at the end to hurt us,” said Kocic. “I punched a couple of balls. I tried to catch them, and it’s impossible because [Cooper] fouls you every time. He hit me in the jaw really hard once. It was like a boxing match. It’s alright. It’s experience.”
D.C. United notes
*United Brazilian midfielder Fred missed the match to attend to a family illness.
*D.C. will host New York on May 20 at 7 p.m. in a match to decide who earns a berth in the U.S. Open Cup proper.
