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De Rosario scores twice, Toronto beats DC 3-2

Oct 24, 2010 - 3:35 AM WASHINGTON (AP) -- Dwayne De Rosario scored twice after halftime to spoil Jaime Moreno's MLS farewell and propel Toronto F.C. to a 3-2 victory over D.C. United on Saturday in both teams' season finale.

Moreno put United up 2-1 on a 39th-minute penalty kick for his 133rd career MLS goal to retake sole possession - at least temporarily - of first place on the league's career list.

But De Rosario headed in Nick LaBrocca's cross in the 48th minute to tie it at 2 before he finished off a swift counterattack sparked by passes from Nicholas Lindsay and Jacob Peterson 17 minutes later.

Moreno was substituted in the 82nd minute to a standing ovation from most of the 18,071 in attendance, and walked the RFK Stadium perimeter for several minutes thanking fans. Moreno spent 14 of his 15 MLS seasons with United, winning four MLS Cups in the process.

"I can't imagine what it is to lose a family (member), because this is pretty devastating," said a choked-up Moreno, who announced he would be leaving in August as United continues a rebuilding effort. "I wasn't prepared for this moment. I didn't know what to expect. It's heartbreaking."

De Rosario joined United players in hugging the 36-year-old Bolivian, who walked off the field one final time as MLS' leading goal scorer.

"I just thanked him for what he's done in this league," De Rosario said of his exchange with Moreno, who leads F.C. Dallas' Jeff Cunningham by one on the goals list. Moreno's 102 assists make him the only MLS player to achieve triple digits in both categories.

"Guys like that put the league on the map," De Rosario added. "Guys like that made players from Europe and players from all over the world be attracted to this league."

Santino Quaranta scored in the second minute for United (6-20-4), before Maicon Santos tied it for Toronto (9-13-8) in a match between teams who failed to make the league's eight-team playoffs.

But the attention was always on Moreno. In pregame preparations, fans hung banners throughout RFK stadium - even spelling his name in giant black cloth letters across 15 unused sections of upper deck.

Before kickoff, MLS Commissioner Don Garber, former teammates Marco Etcheverry, John Harkes and Eddie Pope, and five leaders of D.C.'s supporters clubs all honored Moreno in a pregame ceremony.

"There's been very few people, perhaps none other, who have done as well for our league, and for the sport of soccer in our country, than you, Jaime Moreno," Garber told the crowd.

Moreno, who wore a shirt from United's Latin-influenced Barra Brava fan club at a postgame press conference, said he struggled to absorb the display.

"I don't think I've ever seen something like that, not even back home," he said. "It's incredible, you know. It shows the affection and the care they have for myself and this team. It's amazing, these fans."