Namoff's Unlikely Goal Helps Halt United's Winless Streak

United 1, Fire 0

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill., Aug. 29 -- A rare goal by defender Bryan Namoff on Saturday night helped D.C. United earn its first shutout on the road and end a winless streak that lasted almost six weeks.

In critical need of a victory, United went ahead in the 11th minute on Namoff's header and executed its grittiest defensive performance of the year in defeating the Chicago Fire, 1-0, before 16,324 at Toyota Park.

United (7-5-11, 32 points) had not won on the road in four months and was conceding an average of more than two goals per trip. The triumph allowed D.C. to overtake Toronto for fourth place in MLS's Eastern Conference and build momentum heading into the U.S. Open Cup championship game Wednesday against Seattle at RFK Stadium.

"We knew we had to get a result here," captain Jaime Moreno said. "It was great to see a totally different face, a little attitude, a little anger."

That anger spilled over in the final moments when United teammates Josh Wicks and Marc Burch had to be separated as the Fire was applying severe pressure. Wicks, the goalkeeper, began screaming and pointing at Burch for an apparent missed assignment. They exchanged words, appeared to push each other and had to be separated just before Chicago took a corner kick.

"They were really excited about the game, so sometimes emotions get the better of you, but inside [the locker room], they are hugging," Coach Tom Soehn said, attempting to make light of the incident. "It's an emotional game. No problems."

Said Burch: "Everything is fine." Wicks said he didn't want to comment.

"We were wound pretty tight the last couple days," midfielder Ben Olsen said. "We really wanted this and sometimes it spills over. It shows that guys care. People get pretty intense during stressful times. I don't like to see it, but it happens."

United's defensive success was due in part to a four-man back line, an alignment that Soehn has resisted much of the season. But the club's growing confidence in central defender Julius James, who was acquired a few weeks ago, allowed for the change.

United's overall effort, from back line to front line, was also much improved after a disheartening effort Wednesday in the Champions League.

"You could see the fight in everyone's eyes before the game, an urgency we needed," defender Dejan Jakovic said. "It think this is the turning point."

The Fire (10-6-8, 38 points) fell to 4-4-4 at home and missed a chance to seize first place.