D.C. United are on the verge of a second straight loss and fourth in their last five after Brian Carroll's 8th-minute goal put the Philadelphia Union in front, 1-0 at halftime Sunday afternoon at RFK Stadium.
Carroll's goal came after United failed to clear a free kick by Freddy Adu. At one point, the ball took a wicked deflection off the head of Perry Kitchen and bounced right to Carroll, who prodded the ball past Bill Hamid while standing right at the near post.
United almost equalized a couple of minutes later, but Lionard Pajoy's header from a Dwayne De Rosario corner kick was tipped over the bar by Zac MacMath. Pajoy and Danny Cruz started for United and Philadelphia just three days after being swapped for each other in a trade that caught many MLS observers off guard.
United very nearly pulled even again with the last action of the half, but Adu was able to clear the chance off the line with his head.
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