Sat Apr 26 22:00:55 2008

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Moreno, D.C. United crush Real Salt Lake

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Washington, D.C. (Sports Network) - Jaime Moreno had two goals and two assists to lead D.C. United to a 4-1 win over Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer on Saturday night.

Moreno scored both goals on penalty kicks - one in each half - to increase his own MLS record for career goals to 115. He added assists on goals from Santino Quaranta and Marcelo Gallardo.

D.C. United won for just the second time this season - its other win was a 4-1 decision over Toronto FC - to avenge a 4-0 loss to Real two weeks ago and snap a two-game losing streak.

United came close to posting its first shutout of season, but Real Salt Lake's Carey Talley scored in the 77th minute.

United had a couple early shots on goal by Gallardo and Luciano Emilio but RSL goalie Nick Rimando saved both.

D.C. lost midfielder Fred less than halfway through the opening half due to an injury, but Marc Burch replaced him and helped set up the first and last goal.

Burch took the ball deep into left side of the penalty area in the 34th minute and tried to cross to Emilio, but his pass was knocked down by the arm of Real midfielder Dema Kovalenko and United was awarded a penalty kick.

Moreno fooled Rimando with a soft chip shot into the middle of the net. Moreno put such a soft touch on the ball that Rimando, who dove to his right, nearly regrouped to make a save.

Javier Morales had Real's first good scoring chance in the 38th minute but his shot from just outside the six-yard box was saved D.C. goalie Zach Wells.

Moreno was given another chance from the penalty spot early in the second half when Emilio was fouled inside the box by Talley. The veteran didn't toy with a soft shot this time and hammered a perfect shot into the upper left corner.

The two goals give Moreno 16 multi-goal games in his career, which ranks third all-time in MLS.

Morales nearly cut the deficit in half in the 60th minute with a free kick off the left post. Teammate Kenny Deuchar wasted a chance to score off the rebound when he shot wide.

Moreno then helped D.C. start to pull away when he set up Quaranta with a good cross on the right side of the penalty area. Quaranta finished the chance well to give United a three-goal edge in the 67th minute.

Real Salt Lake avoided the shutout when Talley scored his first goal this year on an easy shot from right in front of the goal. The goal was set up by passes from Tony Beltran and Morales.

Gallardo ended Real's comeback hopes three minutes later when he volleyed into the upper left from a tough angle to cap the scoring. Moreno helped set up the goal with a pass to Burch, who delivered the cross to Gallardo.

Real Salt Lake (1-3-1) will try to rebound on May 3 when it hosts Los Angeles. D.C. (2-3-0) visits Colorado on May 4.