United Makes the Most of Its Opportunities

Adu Sparkles, Defense Is Firm Against Houston: United 2, Dynamo 0

D.C. United Coach Peter Nowak didn't much want to talk about the individual performances that propelled his club to a 2-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo last night at RFK Stadium -- an understandable approach given United's fine collaboration against one of MLS's most dangerous teams.

Indeed, goalkeeper Troy Perkins and his defenders stretched their shutout streak to 252 minutes and United created a steady stream of scoring opportunities, highlighted by Josh Gros's goal midway through the first half and Christian Gomez's deflected free kick in the 71st minute, to improve to 2-0-1.

But even the hard-to-satisfy Nowak had to acknowledge -- just for a moment, anyway -- the sizzling performance by his 16-year-old forward-midfielder, Freddy Adu.

Adu, back in the starting lineup after an influential effort off the bench last weekend, didn't have a direct role in either goal. But the way he handled himself the entire evening, nimbly running at defenders with a confidence that belies his age and dropping passes to teammates with just the proper touch, diversified the attack and entertained the crowd of 15,015.

"You can see the progress, you can see how he adjusts to situations and of course, [how] he goes forward because this is his strength and this is his weapon," Nowak said.

Adu's foray midway through the second half, cutting from the right side toward the top of the penalty area, didn't end until he was chopped down by defender Ryan Cochrane 23 yards from the net. On the ensuing free kick, Gomez sent a bending ball off a player in the defensive wall and past flat-footed goalkeeper Pat Onstad to all but finish the Dynamo (1-2).

Later, with Houston committing extra players into the attack, Adu was provided with ample space to create. He curved a long shot just wide of the upper left corner and, on a counterattack instigated by teammate Alecko Eskandarian, blistered a shot off the crossbar.

"My motto now is: 'Enjoy Yourself,' " said Adu, who had three secondary assists in the first two matches. "My teammates and my coaches have given me that freedom to go at people. . . . When they tell you that, it makes you feel good, it makes you feel like -- you know what? -- take chances, and that's what I did."

As is his custom, Nowak juggled his starting lineup again. Adu was rewarded for his strong showing as a reserve during last week's 2-0 victory over Chivas USA, lining up on the right side.

He and his teammates were slow to find a rhythm at the start, but in the 24th minute, United went ahead on a dead ball situation that probably never should have occurred.

Gros made a run on the left side, holding off a defender and getting to the end line before serving a nice cross into the middle of the box. Normally, the referee would allow play to continue because, even if there were grounds to call a foul, the attacking team had the advantage.

This time, Abiodun Okulaja whistled play to a halt, drawing protests from United. But in a pleasant twist for D.C., the ensuing free kick resulted in a goal. Gomez sent the ball to the far post, where Jaime Moreno directed it on target. Onstad made a desperation save but left the rebound for Gros, who smashed it into the net from three yards.

If the sequence had not ended with a goal, Okulaja probably would have rewarded a penalty kick because, as Gomez's free kick sailed through the six-yard box, Lucio Filomeno was blatantly pulled down.

The Dynamo thought it had gotten even in the 33rd minute, but MLS leading scorer Brian Ching was ruled offside after collecting Brad Davis's free kick, turning and touching the ball past Perkins.

Adu nearly doubled the lead in the 68th, but his shot from an acute angle just missed the far corner. Three minutes later, after Adu made his sharp run and drew a foul, Gomez's free kick made it 2-0. Houston then squandered several opportunities in the closing minutes.

"We play two complete halves," Nowak said. "Overall, this is what we expect."

United Notes: Goalkeeper Nick Rimando (foot), defenders Bryan Namoff (groin) and David Stokes (quadriceps), midfielder Clyde Simms (foot) and midfielder-forward Santino Quaranta (hamstring) were unavailable because of injuries. . . . Houston was without midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, an MVP finalist last year, who served a red-card suspension.