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United Posts Shutout To Snap Home Slide
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While the new players added a consistent element, it was an old combination that produced the first goal. Moreno centered the ball through the box to Emilio, who touched it against the grain to create a sliver of space and then lashed a left-footed shot from 13 yards into the lower right corner.
Emilio increased his team-best goals total to 11, Moreno his team-best assists mark to seven.
The Wizards' best chance to tie came in the 41st when Wells's awkward clearance at the top of the penalty area allowed Ryan Pore to gain possession. But Wells scrambled back to block Pore's unimaginative shot. Earlier, Wells had to backtrack on Jack Jewsbury's floater to prevent an embarrassing goal.
"I knew at that point," Wells said, "things were looking up."
United had two opportunities to stretch the lead before halftime. Moreno and Emilio worked a neat give-and-go in which Moreno lifted the ball over goalie Kevin Hartman and off the left post, and Clyde Simms fired a 30-yarder narrowly wide of the left corner.
Moreno then added to the lead with an exquisite goal. Marc Burch served a free kick from near the sideline. With his back to the net, Moreno shielded off a defender and directed an 11-yard header just beyond the fully extended Hartman and into the far corner in the 60th minute for his seventh goal.
"I can't remember the last time I scored on a header," said Moreno, MLS's career leader with 119 goals.
All that remained was pursuit of that elusive shutout. Carroll and Bryan Namoff disrupted treacherous sequences in the box and Wells touched away a dangerous long ball. In the closing minutes, Wells made a few routine stops and the Wizards missed their other opportunities.
"The work paid off," Burch said. "There were a few games where we gave up one when we shouldn't have given up any. Zach made some big saves and kept the zero for us."
