Moreno Scores Two Goals to Rally United to a Victory

United 2, FC Dallas 1

Before D.C. United's 2-1 victory over FC Dallas last night at RFK Stadium, Jaime Moreno was saluted by the club for becoming the first player in MLS history to record 100 regular season goals and 100 assists. A video montage was shown and a framed gift was presented.

Then, over the course of the next 70-plus minutes, Moreno provided a vintage performance that harkened to his glory days and supplied a fresh set of highlights.

His goals 10 minutes apart and all-around brilliance helped United (3-1-3) overcome a halftime deficit and validate a mostly dominant performance by the home club in front of 14,225 spectators.

After Andre Rocha placed Dallas (1-5-1) ahead in the 28th minute, Moreno -- a 35-year-old forward in his 14th MLS season -- scored the equalizer in the 56th on an outstanding pass by Bryan Namoff and then finished Christian Gómez's set-up in the 66th.

"Every year he comes back, people doubt him," teammate Ben Olsen said. "I tell people every time, 'Do not doubt this guy. He's going to keep doing what he's doing.' It was a classy performance once again from him."

His playing time limited by a red-card suspension and injuries, including a heel ailment that sidelined him last weekend at New York, Moreno made the most of his third starting assignment with a display that was both graceful and potent. It wasn't just the goals, which increased his MLS-best career total to 124. It was his vision, ball distribution and decision-making.

Of scoring twice on the same evening he was honored, Moreno said: "It's pretty emotional. Those moments are special. My goal is to maintain that level. I don't want to have ups and downs."

United seized control at the start and, except for an occasional Dallas foray, the first half remained glaringly one-sided. Moreno was most instrumental, testing goalkeeper Ray Burse from distance, narrowly missing the lower left corner from 26 yards and setting up rookie Chris Pontius for a 22-yarder that skipped fractionally wide.

United was in perpetual possession, moving the ball freely and carving space against Dallas's faltering resistance. In the 25th minute, Moreno cut back in the box and curled an angled shot off the far post and Clyde Simms's rebound attempt was deflected at close range.

United's inability to finish opportunities haunted the club when Rocha redirected Dave van den Bergh's corner kick through a crowd and into the net, marking only the third time United trailed this season.

Moreno "was unlucky not to get one in the first half," United Coach Tom Soehn said. "We were unlucky not to get a few in the first half."

Moreno continued his wizardry, serving as the hub of a well-tuned attack and distributing the ball into dangerous positions. Early in the second half, he crossed to Luciano Emilio for a short header that Burse thwarted with a stellar reflex save.