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Bieler lifts Sporting over D.C. United

Apr 6, 2013 - 3:17 AM Kansas City, KS (Sports Network) - Claudio Bieler's strike right at the death handed Sporting Kansas City a 1-0 win over D.C. United on Friday at Sporting Park.

Sporting's clean sheet extends the club's shutout streak to an impressive 429 consecutive minutes and they have not allowed a goal since falling to Toronto FC, 2-1. back on March 9.

Sporting KC was on the front foot from the first whistle and its first great chance of the night came in the 19th minute when defender Matt Besler powered one into the penalty area with a long throw-in. Bieler got his head to it, but flicked it just wide of the United net.

The hosts had several more chances to find the back of the net, but almost went down a goal right at the end of the first half as United best chance came in the 45th minute.

United forward Lionard Pajoy controlled a ball on the left wing, worked his way past Sporting KC defender Aurelien Collin and fired a shot toward goal, but it sizzled past the near post and the teams went into the break scoreless.

Sporting KC kept the pressure up in the second half and it paid off in the final minute of regulation when Soony Saad beat his defender to the end line and sent a low cross into the box where Bieler powered it past United goalkeeper Bill Hamid with a first-time, left-footed rocket.

The Sporting KC Designated Player has four goals in his first six matches.

D.C. United sent numbers forward in search of an equalizer as the fourth official's board showed five minutes of stoppage time, but the visitors were unable to produce the goal they needed to come away with a point.

Sporting Kansas City rises to second place in the Eastern Conference on 11 points, while D.C. United drops to ninth place with four points from five matches.