United, Toronto FC Play to Tie

Moreno's Penalty Kick in Extra Time Caps Wild Stretch: United 3, Toronto FC 3

Before last night's MLS match between D.C. United and Toronto FC, several hundred United supporters marched down East Capitol Street to bring attention to the club's need for a modern home facility. But one has to wonder whether United would ever, even in a new venue, be able to replicate a game as wacky as the one that unfolded later at RFK Stadium.

With three goals in a late six-minute span, including Jaime Moreno's penalty kick in added time, United and Toronto settled for a 3-3 tie before 15,652 spectators.

Although the result extended its unbeaten streak in league play to five (six overall) and solidified its hold of first place in the Eastern Conference, United (3-1-5, 14 points) was hardly rejoicing.

An exquisite first half resulted in just one goal, and after allowing an awful equalizer, United fell behind 11 minutes later. Rookie Chris Pontius tied it in the 86th minute, but just 74 seconds passed before Toronto's Dwayne De Rosario scored on a thunderous shot.

Moreno's penalty kick in the second of four added minutes, his MLS-best 125th career goal, salvaged United's third tie at home in five games.

"They didn't give up and got a tie out of it," United Coach Tom Soehn said of his players, "but you don't walk away feeling good about this one at all."

On a brighter note, the wild finish marked the third time that United scored in added time to either win or tie. The club also accomplished that against New England on Ben Olsen's late goal and beat New York on Pontius's game-winner on the road two weeks ago.

"If we had lost today, it would be just miserable because we put too much effort into it," said rookie goalkeeper Milos Kocic, who took responsibility for Toronto's first goal. "Every time we are losing, we keep fighting. It's just another example of the great team -- never stop playing, never give up, keep playing, keep playing."

Soehn's pattern of alternating goalies continued as Kocic stepped in for veteran Louis Crayton, who performed reasonably well Wednesday at Kansas City. Kocic was mistake-free until the 52nd minute, when he and defender Dejan Jakovic failed to communicate on a booming kick by Toronto goalie Stefan Frei and allowed De Rosario to score the first of his two goals.

"It was definitely my fault," Kocic said.

Up to that point, United had been in firm control, moving the ball fluidly, switching the point of the attack and taking the lead in the ninth minute on forward Ange N'Silu's first MLS goal in just his second appearance.

"Once the [first Toronto] goal was scored, we were taken off guard, and all of a sudden, we started getting put on our heels," United defender Bryan Namoff said. "It was like: 'Whoa, what just happened?' "