Dwayne De Rosario's 39th minute goal has given D.C. United a 1-0 halftime lead over Chivas USA at RFK Stadium. The goal, De Rosario's 10th of the season and seventh since being traded to United, was one of the simpler ones he'll ever score. It came from an Andy Najar free kick after referee Chris Penso correctly penalized Jorge Flores for a deliberate handball just outside the right edge of the penalty area. Najar sent in the free kick and none of the Chivas defenders could track De Rosario's quick run through the penalty area. The Canadian international planted his header to the right of visiting goalkeeper Dan Kennedy.
The goal capped a decent, if uneven half of play for United, who clamped down defensively after giving up two early chances and looked better as the half went on.
Chivas' first chance came in the second minute when Alejandro Moreno tried a tame overhead kick that was easily collected by the returning Bill Hamid. Four minutes later, Hamid was tested more severely and had to get low to his right quickly to save Marcos Mondaini's dipping shot from outside the box.
D.C. United came back quickly and almost went up ten minutes into the match, when De Rosario's deflected free kick fell to Josh Wolff on the right side of the area. The striker's shot from a tight angle was blocked by Kennedy, and the visitors cleared the rebound.