It took D.C. United over four hundred minutes to claim their first lead of the 2007 MLS season. After nurturing it, bolstering it, and holding off Chivas USA’s desperate final attacks, they parlayed it into their first victory of the season.

Before 14,267 at RFK Stadium yesterday afternoon, United built on Thursday’s draw and used a spirited performance to secure a 2-1 victory, bringing their record to 1-3-1. Due to player fatigue (three matches in a week) and strategical concerns, United coach Tom Soehn shook up the lineup yet again.

Structurally, D.C. featured a 4-3-1-2 formation. Jaime Moreno and Guy Kpene replaced Thursday’s striking tandem of Nicholas Addlery and Luciano Emilio, while Brian Carroll reclaimed his starting spot at the defensive midfield. Justin Moose replaced the injured Fred (groin) on the right wing, giving United a more open look on the flank than the centrally-minded Brazilian.

The personnel changes proved fruitful for United, as they shook off a slow start and began building momentum. As United started looking to the wings more and changing fields, they were met with more and more success. Moose played his most dynamic game to date, aggressively pushing forward and hustling back to help on defense. On both ends, his performance was uneven; missed tackles were offset by crucial stops, while great positioning and ball control on the attack were offset by poor shot accuracy. Though Yinka Casal replaced him in the second half, we found it difficult to question his passion and commitment.

Photos by Kyle Gustafson. See the entire match photo gallery here.