United Finally Translates Lead Into Victory

United 1, Dynamo 0

D.C. United seized the lead for the third consecutive match last night, and for the first time, the advantage stood up.

Luciano Emilio scored less than two minutes into the second half and, despite playing short-handed for the final 19 minutes because of Jaime Moreno's red card, United upended the Houston Dynamo, 1-0, in an MLS game before just 12,594 at RFK Stadium.

After surrendering second-half leads and settling for ties in the first two games, United (1-0-2) seemed on course for another breakdown when Moreno exited six minutes after entering. But the defense continued to bond under difficult circumstances, goalkeeper Louis Crayton was firm in his first start of the year and Houston (0-2-1) narrowly missed three opportunities.

"I am kind of glad Jaime got a red card," midfielder Ben Olsen said, only half-joking. "Obviously it put us in a bad spot, but it is good to be tested early and come out with three points. It shows that we have some men out there."

United's back line had undergone offseason changes and suffered early season injuries, resulting in some unsteady moments against Los Angeles and Chicago. But on this night, it surrendered few quality scoring chances before absorbing the late-game pressure.

"I think we were sick of tying," defender Bryan Namoff said. "We huddled before the start of the game and said, 'All right, this is our opportunity to get a shutout and let's get it done.' We were all on the same page."

United Coach Tom Soehn has insisted all spring that the club has ample depth this year, and last night was another opportunity to use it.

United received another noteworthy performance by rookie Chris Pontius, who shuttled between the right wing and an interior role. The club watched forward Ange N'Silu make his MLS debut and contribute to the attack in the first half. It also saw Brazilian midfielder Fred enter his first game of the year after overcoming a hamstring ailment and defender Greg Janicki return from a head injury and play the last 11 minutes.

After an uneventful first half, United took the initiative and set up Emilio for his second goal in two games.

In the 47th minute, Namoff dropped a long ball over the Houston defense. Emilio maneuvered around crossed-up defender Bobby Boswell, the former United standout, and cleverly chipped the ball over on-rushing goalkeeper Pat Onstad. Before two retreating Houston players arrived, the shot floated into the left corner.

"I just tried to play into that space and luckily Bobby missed it, which created a one-on-one for Emilio," said Namoff, who preserved the lead five minutes later with a goal-line clearance of Ricardo Clark's stab off a corner kick.

Fred's entrance in the 57th minute sent Christian Gómez to the bench, an unusually early exit for the Argentine playmaker who had been largely neutralized by Clark. Moreno entered for N'Silu but was soon ejected for spilling Brad Davis near midfield. It was a clear foul and certainly deserved a yellow card, but Moreno was stunned to see referee Baldomero Toledo hold up the red card.