WASHINGTON (AP) – Maicon Santos scored his first two goals with his new club and added an assist to lead D.C. United to a 4-1 victory over F.C. Dallas Friday night.
Nick De Leon added a goal, the second of his rookie season, and Danny Cruz also scored as United (1-1-2) picked up their first win of the new season.
Blas Perez scored his second goal of the year before halftime for FC Dallas (1-1-2), which has now lost its second straight on the road after beginning the season with a win and draw at home.
Dallas’ Daniel Hernandez was sent off in the 78th minute when he picked up his second yellow card after a rough challenge on Dwayne De Rosario.
After reaching halftime tied 1-all, United scored three goals during a 13-minute stretch to turn what had been a close contest into a comfortable win.
De Leon struck in the 60th minute, controlling a perfect cross from Santos with his first touch, and hammering a half-volley past Dallas’ Kevin Hartman with his second.
Six minutes later, De Leon got free on the left and drove a low cross to Cruz, whose one-time effort bounced past Hartman from close range.
Santos, who was acquired from Toronto F.C in the offseason, then scored his second in the 73rd minute, heading in De Rosario’s cross.
Television replays appeared to show Santos in an offside position when the ball was played.
Santos’ blasted a 25-yard strike past Hartman before halftime to give United an early 1-0 lead, before Perez struck just before halftime after a flubbed defensive clearance.
Bill Hamid, United’s usual starting goalkeeper, missed Friday’s match with a left ankle sprain suffered in the United States’ 3-3 draw against El Salvador in Olympic qualifying Monday.
Joe Willis replaced Hamid, who is expected to miss one to weeks according to a team press release, and made three crucial first-half saves to move to 1-1-1 in three starts.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
