Le Toux scores two as Union win

Another proficient offensive showing by Sebastien Le Toux and a clutch performance by Michael Farfan gave the Union one of their most important wins of the year.

Le Toux scored twice and Farfan added a goal and an assist in Thursday's 3-2 win over D.C. United in front of 17,963 at PPL Park in Chester.

"This was one of our better efforts lately," Union team manager Peter Nowak said.

The Union (10-7-13) moved into second place in the Eastern Conference with 43 points, one behind first-place Sporting Kansas City. With four games remaining, the Union have yet to clinch one of the 10 playoff spots in what remains a tight race, but this win not only helped their cause but also hurt a close competitor.

D.C. United (9-9-11, 38 points) are five points behind the Union but have a game in hand.

"We're in such a tight race, but we control our own destiny," said Union defender Sheanon Williams, who played 80 effective minutes despite suffering a hamstring injury earlier in the week.

Farfan broke a 2-2 tie in the 57th minute. After receiving a short pass from Roger Torres, the Union midfielder took several dribbles before firing in a 22-yard blast for his second goal of the season.

Le Toux continued his torrid pace in carrying the Union offense during the first half.

After scoring just one goal in the Union's first 22 games, Le Toux has been looking like the Major League Soccer all-star he was last year.

He scored two first-half goals, giving him nine in the last eight games and 10 for the season.

Le Toux netted both goals on long runs. In the fourth minute, he got behind the United defense - a common occurrence - and connected from 8 yards out. In the 15th minute, Farfan sent a cross over defender Brandon McDonald to Le Toux, who converted from close range for a 2-0 lead.

"Overall on the night, we probably deserved to come out on the short end," United coach Ben Olsen said. "We had trouble dealing with their interchanging, and Le Toux was a handful."

United, who played the Union to a 2-2 draw on July 2 at RFK Stadium, came back with two quick goals to tie the game before halftime.

The first came from a likely source, MLS scoring leader Dwayne De Rosario, who headed in a corner from Austin da Luz in the 21st minute. It was his 14th goal and 11th in 14 games with United since his June 27 acquisition from the New York Red Bulls. De Rosario left the game in the 62d minute, limping as he was replaced. Olsen said he banged up a knee but hoped he would be able to play in United's next game, Sunday at Columbus.

United tied the score in the 30th minute when Andy Najar dribbled inside the box and slid a rocket just inside the near post past Zac MacMath.

Le Toux had a good chance in the 37th minute when he one-timed a cross from Williams right at goalkeeper Bill Hamid.

Both teams had good scoring chances a bit later. In the 40th minute, Union defender Carlos Valdes just missed tapping in a Le Toux free kick.

A shot by United's Ethan White from just inside the box went wide of the far post in the 42d minute.