Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Julius James scored nine minutes from time to help D.C. United dent Toronto FC's playoff hopes with a 1-0 defeat at BMO Field on Saturday.
After playing to a 0-0 draw with the Chicago Fire on Wednesday, Toronto looked headed for another scoreless draw. But James pounced on a loose ball six yards from goal to beat goalkeeper Stefan Frei in the 81st minute.
The win is the second in six games for D.C. under interim coach Ben Olsen, while Toronto has now been shutout in five of its last six games.
Dwayne De Rosario almost put Toronto ahead in the sixth minute when he dribbled past five D.C. players and ripped a shot off the post.
It was as close as TFC would come to scoring all afternoon, while the best chance for United in the first half came in the 37th minute when Danny Allsopp was stopped at close range.
Allsopp had another chance in the second half, but he blasted his shot over the net from inside the area, while Mista went close with a header from a corner kick for Toronto.
Finally, a free kick in the 81st minute from Branko Boskovic was played into the middle of the box from the right wing, and James jumped on the loose ball and drove a left-footed shot past Frei.