Moreno's Goal Gives United Tie on Road

United 1, Fire 1

CHICAGO, Sept. 23 -- The goal that saved an afternoon of largely sluggish play for D.C. United wasn't supposed to be a goal. The ball that left the foot of forward Jaime Moreno in the 84th minute wasn't even supposed to be a shot. It was meant as a cross and ended up earning United a point in the MLS standings.

United came away from Sunday's match with a 1-1 draw despite allowing the Chicago Fire to set the tone from the opening whistle.

"We looked like a team that had some time off," United Coach Tom Soehn said. "It wasn't our normal effort, but to get a point on the road on a day when you're missing some is important."

Sunday's match was United's first in 11 days. The team also played without three key contributors -- midfielders Christian Gomez, Ben Olsen and Fred each served a yellow card suspension.

Though admittedly outplayed, United preserved a tie thanks to Moreno's errant cross. After stealing the ball just outside the Chicago box, Moreno faked a pass once and then again as he moved down the right side.

When Moreno finally sent the ball on its way, he hoped one of his teammates would finish the job. Instead, the ball hooked over Fire goalkeeper Matt Pickens and into the net.

"It was supposed to be a cross," Moreno said. "It's too bad for their keeper. He thought it was going to stay outside. It didn't loop nice, but at the end of the day, we'll take it."

The same could be said for Sunday's outcome in general.

Time after time in the first half, the Fire pressed toward the United goal, sprinting just a little faster, fighting for position just a little harder. Chicago's play was emblematic of a team clinging to the eighth and final MLS playoff spot, of a team desperate by necessity.

Likewise, United roamed the pitch like a team with a secured playoff berth vying for the league's best record.

"They needed the points," United goalkeeper Troy Perkins said. "We knew they were going to push and give everything they had. In the first 15 minutes we let them dictate the way the game would go."

For the most part, the action seemed to follow one man -- Fire forward Cuauht¿moc Blanco -- as he moved from one side of the field to the other, orchestrating the attack.

In the 13th minute, Blanco moved the ball down the middle before feeding it to forward Chad Barrett on the right side of the box. A sliding block from United defender Greg Vanney was all that kept Barrett from a clean shot at the goal.

Blanco left his most noticeable mark on the match in the 18th minute when he lofted the ball to Barrett down the middle of the field.

As he neared the box, Barrett fought for position with United defender Bryan Namoff as they ran side-by-side. Barrett won that matchup, then slid the ball past Perkins to the far post from 15 yards.

After claiming a 2-1 win Sept. 12 over Salt Lake, United became the first team to clinch a berth in the MLS playoffs. That match also was the last game United had played before Sunday.

With five weeks remaining in the season, United finds itself concerned with less vital matters such as claiming the Supporters' Shield -- given to the team with the best regular season record -- than they are about making the playoffs. Chicago does not have that luxury.

The Fire almost was able to capitalize on its sense of desperation, and may have provided a jolt to the United in the process.

"We're not pleased with the whole performance, but we know we're going to have games like that where we just have to fight," Moreno said. "We want to maintain the level we have played at the last 16-18 games. I don't think today we played a good game of soccer, but we got a point on the road. We'll take it."