WASHINGTON -- D.C. United overcame its ongoing injury woes to secure two prized accomplishments at RFK Stadium on Saturday night, seizing a 2-0 win against the Kansas City Wizards that not only ended a four-game losing skid in all competitions but also gave Zach Wells and his defense their first league shutout of the 2008 campaign.
The offensive magic was provided by Jaime Moreno, who hit for the game-clinching goal as well as an assist off Luciano Emilio's cool first-half finish, while United's youngsters in midfield and defense contributed the hard work to close down the Wizards attack in the final third despite no shortage of possession for the visitors. Despite a few shaky moments early on, Wells did his part with a season-high eight saves.
Robbed of Gonzalo Peralta and Gonzalo Martinez due to injury and suspension, D.C. boss Tom Soehn had to field a youthful defense anchored by Devon McTavish and rookie Pat Carroll, with Bryan Namoff and Marc Burch guarding the flanks.
United's first XI also had a bit of San Jose flavor about it, with two former Earthquakes in midfield: Joe Vide and brand-new acquisitions Ivan Guerrero, both midseason arrivals in the nation's capital, manning central and left-sided roles, respectively. Vide was making his first start of the season for D.C. and was essentially employed as a second holding midfielder alongside Clyde Simms, while Luciano Emilio and captain Jaime Moreno led the lineup top.
Kansas City was without a key newcomer of its own, as Josh Wolff was unavailable after suffering a hamstring injury in training. He had made his first start the week before in his return to MLS.
The evening began cagily but heated up in the 13th minute when Emilio's curling left-footer flashed just wide of Kevin Hartman's right-hand post. D.C.'s Brazilian frontrunner intercepted a square pass deep in the visitors' end just seconds later, but his combination with Jaime Moreno and Fred fizzled thanks to Michael Harrington's timely intervention in the box.
Running up to Claudio Lopez's teasing layoff, Kurt Morsink took a flyer with a vicious blast from all of 30 yards out but saw his effort hurtle a few feet wide of United netminder Zach Wells' goal.
Minutes later Wells gave up a cheap corner kick when he could only parry Jack Jewsbury's mis-hit cross over the bar, but got down well to smother the Wizards right back's shot on the ensuing set piece, even after it took a late deflection off Davy Arnaud.
United finally crafted a clear look at goal in the 28th minute and surged into the lead immediately as a result. Guerrero latched on to a long ball and headed down to Moreno at the top left corner of the K.C. penalty box, and the canny Bolivian bought time and space with a cutback onto his right foot before clipping a lateral pass in to Emilio's feet near the penalty spot.
Last season's MVP was closely trailed by one of the league's top defenders in Jimmy Conrad, but he left the Wizards captain flailing with a crisp change of direction before stroking a left-footer past Hartman and into the net for a 1-0 D.C. advantage.
Vide was doing his best to play the part of snapping midfield terrier for United, and his aggression irritated referee Edvin Jurisevic enough to draw a 31st-minute caution for persistent infringement.
Wells' decision-making led to another dodgy moment for the Black-and-Red a few minutes before halftime when he raced out to reach a bouncing ball ahead of Roger Espinoza, only to find himself on the edge of the box with little choice but to clear with his feet. Yet his attempt was blocked by Ryan Pore and Wells had to scramble to his right and block Pore's goalbound shot despite being some 15 yards off his line.
At the other end, United's confidence was clearly blossoming and Moreno looked sure to double his side's advantage in the 44th minute when he exchanged passes with Guerrero before playing a give-and-go with Emilio at the top of the box, leaving the static K.C. back line in his wake. But Hartman sprinted out to throw himself at the Bolivian's feet and Moreno's hurried chip dinked off the base of the post and out of play as the crowd groaned.
Clyde Simms ranged forward to unleash one of his increasingly common long-range heaters in the half's waning moments, but a well-beaten Hartman was relieved to see the ball skip wide of the far post.
For 45 minutes the visitors had worked hard for no visible reward, but they nearly stunned D.C. in the opening seconds of the second half as Arnaud unleashed a lefty rocket towards the upper corner of the net. Wells came up big with an athletic leaping save, however, getting just enough to his right hand on the bid to deflect it wide of the target.
But United, orchestrated by Moreno, soon began to weave together more attractive spells of possession and delighted the crowd with another well-crafted move that sprung Simms loose in the box, only for his cutback to be deflected over the crossbar by a late clearance.
D.C. had been repeatedly victimized by set-piece goals in last week's twin losses to Houston, so Soehn was surely elated to see his side finally cash in on a free kick of their own on the hour mark.
Burch's left foot provided the inswinging delivery from the right flank and Moreno yet again proved that guile goes a long way as he timed his movement perfectly, meeting the cross with a subtly flicked header that flew past Hartman and dropped into the twine just inside the far post.
Now in possession of a 2-0 advantage, D.C. looked to salt away the result as their first league shutout of the year steadily grew into a tantalizing possibility, while Kansas City tried to haul themselves back into the game with the veteran combination of Sasha Victorine and second-half sub Kerry Zavagnin in the center of midfield.
But Wells had to be alert six minutes after Moreno's goal when Harrington lifted a deep cross to the far post, prompting the United 'keeper to slide in and make an unorthodox clearing punch just before Arnaud could get a touch.
Namoff was handed a golden opportunity to notch his second goal of the campaign when Aaron Hohlbein slipped as he moved to cut out Fred's centering header in the 76th minute, but the D.C. right back scuffed his 10-yard shot wide left with only Hartman to beat.
Arnaud's slaloming run down the right side and into the United box looked to have set up Lopez with a glorious look at goal, but the Argentinean legend elected to dummy the ball for Espinoza. The rookie took far too long to release his shot and when he did, got well under it to send the ball soaring harmlessly over the goal.
Lopez tried to test Wells in the game's final moments with a dipping volley from 18 yards out, but the home side held their nerve and took home a priceless victory that moves them out of the four-team jam at the foot of the Eastern Conference standings.
Emilio dominates comeback win
Wizards’ attack unable to find space
Scholes Stunner Clinches It For United
