Commerce City, CO (Sports Network) - Danny Allsopp scored the lone goal of the match in first-half stoppage time and D.C. United stunned the Colorado Rapids, 1-0, on Saturday night in Major League Soccer at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
D.C. (5-18-3), the worst team in MLS, won at Colorado for the first time since 2000 to snap the Rapids' five-game home win streak. Colorado (11-8-8) had lost just once at home all season, 1-0 on May 5 to the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Colorado slipped to seventh place in the overall MLS standings, but still has an eight-point lead on its closest competition, the Kansas City Wizards, for a playoff spot. Kansas City has four games left, compared to three for Colorado.
The Rapids were eliminated from postseason contention on the final day of the regular season the last two seasons, and close with FC Dallas, Los Angeles and Real Salt Lake - the top three teams in MLS.
Allsopp nearly put D.C. in front in the 45th minute when he drove in alone on Matt Pickens, but the Colorado goalie dove to knock the ball away to prevent a shot on goal.
Seconds later, United rookie Andy Najar set up the lone goal with a cross from the right wing. Pickens tried to deflect the pass at the near post but it fell right to Allsopp, who just had to fire home from four yards into an empty net.
Colorado struggled to create many chances against D.C., which posted just its fifth shutout of the season, and wasted its best scoring opportunity with just three minutes left.
Claudio Lopez played a corner from the left side that Conor Casey flicked on at the near post to far side. Drew Moor lunged to reach the ball, but stabbed it just inches wide of the right post with that side of the net wide open.
Perkins finished with just three saves for his fourth shutout of the season.
Both clubs return to action Oct. 9, when United hosts the San Jose Earthquakes and Colorado visits FC Dallas.