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United-Earthquakes Preview

Jul 24, 2009 - 6:44 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

D.C. (6-3-9) at San Jose (3-10-4), 10:30 p.m. EDT

If D.C. United has any chance of challenging for first place in the Eastern Conference, they'll have to start playing better on the road.

Seeking their first win away from home in nearly three months, United begins a three-game road trip Saturday night against the struggling San Jose Earthquakes.

D.C. (6-3-9) recorded its first win in more than a month last Saturday, beating Colorado 3-1. United had given up seven goals on an 0-1-2 road trip from June 17-July 4, but held Colorado to two shots and only allowed an own goal in the 14th minute.

They responded with three second-half scores including one by Bryan Namoff, who was responsible for putting the ball past Josh Wicks in the first half to give Colorado the lead.

"It's the first time I scored two goals in my career," Namoff said. "I'm glad I had a chance to redeem myself."

With the win, D.C. stayed within a point of Chicago for first place in the conference while remaining tied with Columbus for second. With this contest, United will play three straight and five of six on the road, where they are 0-2-4 since a 3-2 victory against New York on April 26.

D.C. has scored only eight goals in its last six contests away from home, and having Jaimie Moreno back in the lineup might help.

After missing the previous three games with a hamstring injury, Moreno came in to start the second half last Saturday and scored on a penalty kick to tie the game. The goal was his sixth of the season.

San Jose (3-10-4), which is opening a four-game homestand, is looking to snap a three-game winless streak (0-2-1). The Earthquakes are coming off their fifth shutout loss of the season after allowing two second-half goals in a 2-0 defeat to Chicago last Saturday.

"To be honest, I can't believe we lost 2-0," coach Frank Yallop said. "We created some good chances and should have scored before they got their first goal.

"Our game plan was great, and I thought we defended the ball well other than a 30-second spell. Two breakdowns and two goals. That's the undoing of us."

San Jose is in last place in the Western Conference and is tied with New York for most goals allowed this season with 33. The Earthquakes given up 13 of those goals at home, where they are 3-3-2.

The Earthquakes and United split two meetings last season with each winning at home. San Jose is 7-2-4 all-time against United at home.