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Moreno, own goal send Crew past D.C. United

Apr 18, 2008 - 4:43 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- D.C. United are used to being the best during the regular season but the Columbus Crew have had their number of late.

Alejandro Moreno scored a goal in the 32nd minute, leading the Crew to a 2-1 win over D.C. United on Thursday.

Though D.C. United (1-3-0) went 10-2-3 at home last season on their way to an MLS-best 55 points, they have experienced little good fortune recently against Columbus, no matter where the teams have played.

With Thursday's win, the Crew (3-1-0) improved to 3-1 in their last four games in the series.

"We were not sharp at all tonight and they - Columbus - took advantage of that," D.C. United coach Tom Soehn said. "We had many opportunities to score, but they shut us down."

Soehn was not keen on using fatigue as a reason for the lackluster play, even though D.C. United was playing for the fourth time in 13 days.

"I'm tired of the old excuse (tired legs) but we'll rest and come back," he said.

Moreno posted his third goal of the season on a right-footed kick from the right penalty box that beat D.C. United goalkeeper Zach Wells to the lower right side of the goal.

Bryan Namoff knotted the match at 1-1 for D.C. United in the 42nd minute, taking a lead pass from reigning league MVP Luciano Emilio on the right side of the penalty box and sending a shot that was unintentionally redirected off the inside part of midfielder Adam Moffat's left leg past a surprised Crew goaltender Will Hesmer.

However, Columbus benefited from a lucky bounce of its own just over a minute later.

From the right wing, Crew midfielder Robbie Rogers lofted a pass from the right wing that found Moreno, who headed the ball off defender Gonzalo Peralta's head and into the net.

"I was trying to stop him (Moreno) and he was pushing me in front of the goal and it just went off my head," Peralta said.

Hesmer finished with four saves for the Crew.