United Finds Good Connection in Win

Gomez, Moreno Combine on Goal: United 1, Red Bulls 0

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Oct. 21 -- The difference in D.C. United's 1-0 playoff victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday at mostly deserted Giants Stadium was midfielder Christian Gomez's clever stab in the 77th minute that drifted over goalkeeper Jon Conway and settled into the left corner of the net.

But to truly appreciate how the goal was scored -- and why United is in prime position to advance to the MLS Eastern Conference final when the clubs meet again next Sunday at RFK Stadium -- one must understand the bond between Gomez and the player who helped make it possible, Jaime Moreno.

Gomez, the Argentine playmaker, began the game-altering sequence by nimbly touching the ball among three defenders and threading it to Moreno, the Bolivian forward. As Gomez made his concise run off the ball, Moreno knew precisely where his teammate was going and promptly one-timed a pass into space for Gomez's right-footed finish.

"It's been two years since Jaime and I have been working together on the same team," Gomez said through an interpreter. "We do things on the field as well as off the field and it's good to reflect that understanding, that communication, on the field."

With Gomez's goal, his fifth in the last five games, United (16-7-10) will need only a tie at home in the finale of the two-game, total-goals series to eliminate the Red Bulls (9-12-12) for the second time in three years.

The Gomez-Moreno combination has been at work since late 2004, and with each passing season, the players have gained an instinctive understanding of each other.

"Every time we get the ball, we're going to be dangerous to play a 1-2," Moreno said. "It was a good combination and a great finish by Christian."

Red Bulls Coach Bruce Arena had talked all week about the importance of disrupting United's Latin connection, but as the match wandered toward a scoreless tie, Gomez and Moreno broke down his club's resistance.

"They're the only two players in the league that could pull that off," he said. "Jaime's got the skills to place the ball at the right spot at the right pace and Gomez has the know-how to run in the right space and the composure to take the ball down and finish off the play. Very nice goal."

United's Ben Olsen instigated the play, getting the ball to Gomez, who danced into the only open space available and found Moreno.

"I keep saying when he scores all these goals, 'You know what? He can't surprise me anymore,' " Olsen said, shaking his head. "But he just continues to amaze me what a great player he is and what a great professional he is."

Olsen then joked: "I know I wouldn't be that nice a guy if I were that good. I'd be a star and I'd act accordingly."