Gomez Scores Winner, Keeps Unbeaten Run Going

United 1, FC Dallas 0

Christian Gomez celebrates his sixth goal of as well as United's 11-game unbeaten streak. (Tony Gutierrez - AP)

FRISCO, Tex., July 4 -- Christian Gomez teamed with Freddy Adu and Jaime Moreno for a pretty, counterattacking goal in the 34th minute to give D.C. United all it needed for a 1-0 victory Tuesday over Major League Soccer West Division leader FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park.

Moreno won the ball after a deflection of a FC Dallas free kick just outside United's penalty area, and he took off downfield with Adu and Gomez. With a three-on-two advantage, Moreno sent the ball to Adu, who fed it to Gomez. The midfielder finished the flurry perfectly with his sixth goal of the season in front of an announced crowd of 16,240.

"It was beautiful work from Jaime, Christian and Freddy," United Coach Peter Nowak said. "It was a great finish from Christian."

United (11-1-5, league-high 38 points) won for the fourth straight outing and extended its unbeaten streak to 11 games.

"It was a big win for us," Nowak said. "After having a couple of days off [United last played on June 28], it was difficult to find rhythm. But then we have a counterattack which changed the dynamic of this game. It's very important to get three points in a big game like this against Dallas on the road."

For most of the opening 45 minutes, Dallas dictated play, controlling possession and outshooting United 9-4. Dallas got going early, as Roberto Mina's second-minute attempt was saved by goalkeeper Troy Perkins. Just a few seconds later, Dallas forward Kenny Cooper had a great look at the goal, but his effort sailed high.

Cooper also had another golden opportunity in the 31st minute, when he sent a blistering shot into the United penalty area. Again, Perkins made the save; the ball escaped his grasp, but there were no Dallas players nearby, and he covered the rebound.

In the second half, United took just two shots, but one of them nearly iced the game. In the 90th minute, forward Alecko Eskandarian, who entered as a second-half substitute, raced up the left side and lured goalkeeper Dario Sala away from the front of the net, but his attempt to make it 2-0 sailed over the crossbar.

FC Dallas also had the bulk of the scoring chances in the second half, finishing the game with 19 shots to United's six, but did not convert any of them.

The home team's best chance to tie the game came in the 69th minute, when Dallas defender Bobby Rhine caught Perkins out of position and shot at an empty net. D.C. defender Facundo Erpen intervened, however, clearing the ball off the line.

"We are not happy with the way we played," Adu said. "We played a pretty bad game today but [winning anyway] is the sign of a good team."

Adu was still pleased to win such a tough game on the road.

"This was a grinder for us," he said. "It just makes it feel so much better that we won and it was so difficult for us. That's what makes it so sweet."

United Note: Defender Brandon Prideaux, who has not played since May 6, will miss five more weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a damaged medial meniscus in his knee, the club announced yesterday. Prideaux started five games early this season, and 28 last season.