Luciano Emilio snapped his seven-game scoreless streak with a game-winner as D.C. United ended a four-game losing streak with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Toronto FC last night at RFK Stadium.
Emilio, who last season led MLS with 20 goals, scored the game-winner in 72nd minute — his first since Toronto last visited the District on April 5. Toronto goalie Greg Sutton stopped a blistering shot by Santino Quaranta, and Emilio fired home the rebound.
“We came out of a ditch, and it’s good we got a win,” Emilio said. “Everyone’s morale is up now.”
Gonzalo Peralta and Jaime Moreno scored the other goals for United (3-7-0, nine points).
Coach Tom Soehn was pleased with the win as United tries to recover from the worst start in franchise history.
“We’re looking for something to go our way, and nothing has been easy this year — not even today,” Soehn said. “But the guys were resilient, and I credit them for their fight and belief.”
Club president Kevin Payne said: “It was a dominating performance with two lapses. If we continue like that, we will do all right.”
Danny Dichio scored both goals for Toronto FC (4-3-2, 14 points), including the first of the game in the 13th minute. Dichio rose above Peralta to head home a cross by Jim Brennan.
Moreno and Marcelo Gallardo both had good shots stopped by Sutton in the first half.
Peralta broke through in the 41st minute, scoring his first MLS goal on a low header off a header by Devon McTavish, via a corner kick by Moreno.
During extra time in the first half, Dichio scored again, beating goalie Zach Wells from 20 yards out. It was the Englishman’s third goal against United in four games.
In the second half, Gallardo nearly tied the game in the 54th minute, but his free kick hit the bar. In the 70th minute, Quaranta was pushed off the ball inside the box, drawing a penalty.
Moreno converted the kick, his fourth goal of the season and 116th of his career.
“I just wanted to be more dangerous,” Quaranta said. “That’s what I do best when I run at guys and cause havoc.”
Two minutes later came Emilio’s game-winner.
“It was a hard shot from Santino and difficult shot for the keeper,” Emilio said. “I was just at the right place at the right time to poke it home.”
United held off a late flurry from Toronto in which its French star, Laurent Robert, was ejected for abusive language.
United, which hasn’t won on the road this season, plays at the New England Revolution on Thursday.
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