D.C. United hangs on to edge LA Galaxy

Lucas Rodriguez scored a goal in the 73rd minute and D. C. United strengthened its place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 2-1 victory over the visiting LA Galaxy.

Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham was able to make consecutive saves on blistering shots from Ulises Segura and Paul Arriola with the deflection after the shot from Arriola landing on the feet of Rodriguez, who scored his fifth of the season into the right side of the net.

In what was expected to be a clash between former Manchester United teammates, the Galaxy's Zlatan Ibrahimovic was in the starting lineup, but D.C. United's Wayne Rooney was out because of a respiratory infection.

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Rooney announced earlier in the week he would finish the season before leaving MLS to join second-tier Derby County in England.

D.C. United (10-7-9, 39 points) won for just the third time in its last 14 games, but moved into third place in the Eastern Conference pending the New York Red Bulls' result at Los Angeles FC later Saturday. The Galaxy (12-11-1, 37 points) lost for the fourth time in their last five games while also losing for the fourth consecutive time on the road.

D.C. United took a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute by going the length of the field in a flash. Segura sent the ball into the penalty area where Arriola took the pass out of the air with his right foot and fired a shot past Bingham for his fifth goal of the season.

The Galaxy broke through three minutes into the second half. Ibrahimovic knocked down an entry pass in the penalty area and Favio Alvarez pounced on the loose ball directing it into the bottom left corner of the goal and past Hamid.

It was the third goal of the season for Alvarez as the Galaxy ended a 392-minute scoring drought on the road. Their last road goal came from Alvarez on June 22 in a 2-0 victory at FC Cincinnati.

The game marked the Galaxy debut of midfielder Cristian Pavon, who was acquired on loan from Argentina's Boca Juniors this week. D.C. United also welcomed a new player as midfielder Felipe made his debut with the club after he was acquired in a trade with the Vancouver Whitecaps earlier in the season.

The Galaxy lost despite a 29-12 advantage on shots. The D.C. United defense was able to block 14 of those Galaxy shots.