De Rosario scores twice, Toronto beats DC 3-2
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Dwayne De Rosario scored twice after halftime
to spoil Jaime Moreno's MLS farewell and propel Toronto F.C. to
a 3-2 victory over D.C. United on Saturday in both teams' season
finale.
Moreno put United up 2-1 on a 39th-minute penalty kick for his
133rd career MLS goal to retake sole possession - at least
temporarily - of first place on the league's career list.
But De Rosario headed in Nick LaBrocca's cross in the 48th
minute to tie it at 2 before he finished off a swift
counterattack sparked by passes from Nicholas Lindsay and Jacob
Peterson 17 minutes later.
Moreno was substituted in the 82nd minute to a standing ovation
from most of the 18,071 in attendance, and walked the RFK
Stadium perimeter for several minutes thanking fans. Moreno
spent 14 of his 15 MLS seasons with United, winning four MLS
Cups in the process.
"I can't imagine what it is to lose a family (member), because
this is pretty devastating," said a choked-up Moreno, who
announced he would be leaving in August as United continues a
rebuilding effort. "I wasn't prepared for this moment. I didn't
know what to expect. It's heartbreaking."
De Rosario joined United players in hugging the 36-year-old
Bolivian, who walked off the field one final time as MLS'
leading goal scorer.
"I just thanked him for what he's done in this league," De
Rosario said of his exchange with Moreno, who leads F.C. Dallas'
Jeff Cunningham by one on the goals list. Moreno's 102 assists
make him the only MLS player to achieve triple digits in both
categories.
"Guys like that put the league on the map," De Rosario added.
"Guys like that made players from Europe and players from all
over the world be attracted to this league."
Santino Quaranta scored in the second minute for United
(6-20-4), before Maicon Santos tied it for Toronto (9-13-8) in a
match between teams who failed to make the league's eight-team
playoffs.
But the attention was always on Moreno. In pregame preparations,
fans hung banners throughout RFK stadium - even spelling his
name in giant black cloth letters across 15 unused sections of
upper deck.
Before kickoff, MLS Commissioner Don Garber, former teammates
Marco Etcheverry, John Harkes and Eddie Pope, and five leaders
of D.C.'s supporters clubs all honored Moreno in a pregame
ceremony.
"There's been very few people, perhaps none other, who have done
as well for our league, and for the sport of soccer in our
country, than you, Jaime Moreno," Garber told the crowd.
Moreno, who wore a shirt from United's Latin-influenced Barra
Brava fan club at a postgame press conference, said he struggled
to absorb the display.
"I don't think I've ever seen something like that, not even back
home," he said. "It's incredible, you know. It shows the
affection and the care they have for myself and this team. It's
amazing, these fans."