WASHINGTON — Bryan Namoff redeemed himself after knocking a ball into his own net, scoring the tiebreaking goal in the 56th minute to lead D.C. United to a 3-1 victory over the Rapids on Saturday night.
Namoff’s header off Christian Gomez’ corner kick beat screened Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens. The goal was just the third of Namoff’s 187-game Major League Soccer career.
In the 14th minute, Namoff kicked the ball into his own goal to put Colorado (6-5-6) up 1-0. Namoff was trying to keep the ball away from Conor Casey but inadvertently put it past Josh Wicks, the second own goal United (6-3-9) has allowed in the last four games.
United won for the first time in four matches.
The Rapids are 0-7-4 in Washington since their last win there July 10, 1999.
United’s Jaime Moreno, who had missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, came in to start the second half and scored on a penalty kick in the 47th minute to tie the game at 1-1. The goal was Moreno’s sixth of the season — four coming on penalty kicks.
Pablo Mastroeni, who committed the foul that resulted in the penalty kick, was assessed a yellow card.
D.C.’s Luciano Emilio, who sat out the last two matches because of a knee injury, scored in the 61st minute to complete the scoring.
Colorado 1 0 — 1
D.C. United 0 3 — 3
First half — 1, Colorado, Namoff (own goal), 14th minute.
Second half — 2, D.C. United, Moreno 6 (penalty kick), 47th. 3, D.C. United, Namoff 1 (Gomez), 56th. 4, D.C. United, Emilio 6 (Fred, Gomez), 61st.
Goalies — Colorado, Matt Pickens; D.C. United, Josh Wicks.
Yellow cards — Fred, D.C. United, 29th; Mastroeni, Colorado, 51st; Casey, Colorado, 85th.
Referee — Ricardo Salazar. Assistant referees — George Gansner. Claudio Badea. 4th official — Andrew Chapin.
A — 18,248 (46,686).
