Late goal on penalty downs the Union

WASHINGTON - Chris Rolfe scored on a penalty kick in the 84th minute to lift D.C. United past the Union, 2-1, on Saturday night at RFK Stadium.

Union midfielder Zach Pfeffer battled Rolfe for a service near the left side of the box and the ball deflected off Pfeffer's arm, resulting in the penalty call.

The victory snapped a three-game winless streak for DCU (7-3-4), which is unbeaten in 19 straight home games, matching a club record. Fifteen of the matches were in Major League Soccer play.

Things started well for the Union (3-8-3).

Just five minutes in, Andrew Wenger weaved his way laterally through the top of the 18-yard box until United's defense broke down. He found Sebastien Le Toux alone on the right flank, and his powerful rightfooted shot beat DCU goalkeeper Bill Hamid easily.

United equalized in first-half stoppage time. Taylor Kemp's leftfooted service came from the left wing and found Chris Pontius at the penalty spot, where Pontius flicked a header into the far upper corner past a diving Brian Sylvestre.

Both teams had opportunities in the middle of the first half. In the 34th minute, DCU's Steve Birnbaum appeared to score with a header, but Fabinho cleared it off the line.

Two minutes later, Wenger broke in alone on Hamid, but his blast hit the crossbar and caromed away from the goal.

The Union had a golden opportunity to go ahead in the 60th minute, but Fernando Aristeguieta's leftfooted shot from the center of the box was saved by a leaping Hamid.

The Union return to PPL Park at 7 p.m. Wednesday, when they host the fourth-place Columbus Crew.