Kitchen lifts United past TFC

Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Perry Kitchen's second-half tally proved to be the difference on Saturday as D.C. United came away with a 2-1 win over Eastern Conference rivals Toronto FC at BMO Field.

Nick DeLeon opened the scoring for United in the 54th minute, but it was quickly canceled out by a tally from Luke Moore six minutes later.

Kitchen then struck for the deciding goal nine minutes after Moore's goal to hand all three points to United, who jump to the top of the Eastern Conference with 28 points, three ahead of second-place Sporting Kansas City.

TFC, meanwhile, remain in fourth place in the East on 21 points, despite the return of midfielder Michael Bradley, who performed admirably at the World Cup for the United States. The result sees TFC's six-match unbeaten run come to an end.

After a scoreless first half, the visitors struck first in the 54th minute as DeLeon jumped on a defensive mistake by TFC in the midfield and galloped into the penalty area before smashing it past Joe Bendik.

But Toronto equalized on the hour mark as Jackson ripped a strike on target from the top of the penalty area. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid spilled it and Luke Moore was there to fire home the rebound.

United then found the winner in the 69th minute as Lewis Neal delivered an excellent corner kick into the box where Kitchen got in between Toronto's zonal marking and nodded a free header past Bendik with ease.

Things got worse for TFC in the 88th minute after defender Nick Hagglund was sent off by referee David Gantar for denying Eddie Johnson a clear goal- scoring opportunity.

The fourth official's board showed five minutes of additional time, but TFC was unable to find a late equalizer as United came away with all three points.