Three-Point Plan Helps United Win

United 3, Wizards 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 27 -- Alecko Eskandarian doesn't care what the calendar says.

It's only May, but D.C. United's 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium was important.

"It's huge," Eskandarian said. "We knew it was a big game coming in, and the guys really stepped up. We played a great team game. . . . Coming on the road it's always difficult.

"It's early in the season, but it's always good to prove yourself early on."

With the victory, United opened some breathing room in the Eastern Conference standings. United (5-1-3) has 18 points, while the Wizards (4-4-1) have 13 points. Had Kansas City won, it would have moved into first place.

Arrowhead Stadium hasn't been a friendly place for United, which hadn't won in Kansas City since a 3-0 victory on June 16, 2001. It had been 0-3-3 in that span.

But United jumped on Kansas City early, scoring in the second minute when Christian Gomez's cross from 35 yards was headed home for a goal by Jaime Moreno. It was the fourth-fastest goal in United history; three other times, the team has scored a goal in the game's first minute.

If Moreno's goal put the Wizards on their heels, then they were knocked off their feet just 16 minutes later, thanks to a fortuitous call.

Clyde Simms dribbled into the penalty box with the Wizards' Davy Arnaud on his shoulder. Simms tried launching a shot, but instead mis-hit the ball and fell to the ground. Although there was no contact, referee Terry Vaughn awarded a penalty kick, which Moreno buried in the 18th minute.

The announced crowd of 10,945 was stunned by the early deficit.

"It's always important to score away [from home], especially [against] a team that's so difficult to play like Kansas City," Moreno said.

Moreno has five goals this season and 99 in his career, putting him on the cusp of joining Jason Kreis as the only players to hit the century mark in MLS history. Moreno, however, is not concerned about the impending milestone.

"It's always nice to score," Moreno said. "Once I get to 100, it's a nice amount of goals. But as I've always said, I don't hesitate, and I don't get desperate. The goals will come at the right time."

As nice as the early cushion was, United seemed to take the wind out of Kansas City's sails right before the half with a goal in first-half stoppage time.

Kansas City had cut the lead to 2-1 thanks to Scott Sealy's tally in the 26th minute and appeared to have gained some momentum. However, Freddy Adu's cross on a free kick from the right side found Bobby Boswell, who headed the ball into the back of the net after breaking free from the Wizards' defense. It was Boswell's first goal of the season.

"It was a pretty important goal," United Coach Peter Nowak said. "I wasn't too happy with our ball distribution in the second half, because I thought we could keep the ball longer and possess the ball a little longer so we could create a lot of chances, but we played smart."

United may not have pressed the attack as much in the second half, but outside of a flurry of activity in the final five minutes, the Wizards did not mount much of a threat either.

Game-time temperatures were in the 90s and that may have contributed to the lack of offense in the second half. That's why the quick start was so important. Along with the win came a stranglehold on first place in the East.

"It's never too early in the season to get the three points," Nowak said. "It's always important to the team confidence. The game tonight showed what kind of potential that we have as a team."