TORONTO (AP) -- Julius James scored in the 81st minute to lift

last-place D.C. United to a 1-0 victory against Toronto FC on

Saturday, dealing a blow to his former team's dwindling playoff

hopes.

Toronto FC (7-10-7), winless in its past six MLS matches, needed

a victory to jump back into the chase for a postseason berth.

The opportunity was there against a struggling D.C. United team

(5-16-3) that has been shut out 14 times this year. However,

Toronto came out with an uninspired effort at home.

D.C. United, which has had trouble scoring, had the better

chances but could not finish. None was better than one at the

opening of the second half when D.C.'s Santino Quaranta made an

improbable miss of an open goal on a close-in chance.

Finally, James, who was drafted in 2008 by Toronto and traded to

Houston in the deal for Dwayne De Rosario the following

offseason, made no mistake with the winner - his first goal of

the season.

Toronto has not scored been in MLS play in 400 minutes.