Dykstra, United drop Revolution for first win
WASHINGTON - Andrew Dykstra earned a shutout in his first MLS start in nearly four years and D.C. United snapped a 15-match winless streak with a 2-0 victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday night.
Substitute Chris Rolfe scored in second-half stoppage time to ensure the victory after United (1-2-1) went ahead late in the first half on an own goal by New England defender Jose Goncalves.
It was United's first win of the season and Rolfe scored his first goal of 2014 after being traded from the Chicago Fire this week. United's winless streak dated to last August.
Dykstra, starting for injured first-choice goalkeeper Bill Hamid, needed only one save to preserve the win in his first MLS action since July 2010.
New England (1-3-1) lost via own goal only one match after securing its first win of the season over San Jose helped by an own goal scored by the Earthquakes. The Revolution have scored just twice this season while being shut out in four of their five matches.
United went ahead in the 43rd minute when Goncalves misfired on a clearance of Cristian's cross inside the left post and beyond goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
The Revolution had their chances after halftime but repeatedly failed to force Dykstra into saves.
Teal Bunbury missed three decent attempts in the space of 10 minutes before being removed for Charlie Davies.
Later, Diego Fagundez made contact on an acrobatic bicycle kick, but sent the shot just wide of Dykstra's left post.
On the other end, United's Eddie Johnson had two late chances to score his first goal of the season and seal it for United. But he fired wide after reaching Fabian Espindola's pass, before Shuttleworth blocked him from close range in the 80th minute.
But Espindola's stoppage-time cross found Rolfe, whose shot deflected off Shuttleworth and into the goal.
Hamid has a left leg injury, according to the club's Twitter feed. He joined the United States national team for Wednesday's exhibition against Mexico, but did not play.
D.C. United honored former United and Revolution midfielder Clyde Simms at halftime. Simms announced he was retiring before the 2014 season due to an ongoing battle with kidney disease.