Many doubts regarding D.C. United’s attack were squelched Saturday night. Following a pair of 0-2 defeats last week, United had a chance to start fresh at home. Riding the strength of their high powered attack, they dispatched Toronto F.C. cleanly in front of 20,161 RFK faithful.

The result was never in question. United got off to a dream start with two goals in the opening five minutes, and their advantage was solidified when TFC lost a man to a red card in the 13th. D.C. showed attacking intent in the opening seconds and were instantly rewarded. Defensive midfielder Clyde Simms pushed forward to win a ball in the offensive half, and when the Toronto back line failed to clear it, Luciano Emilio punished them by shuttling his shot past the charging keeper.

The 2007 MLS Golden Boot winner came within a hair of a second goal minutes later, but his effort was not for naught. When his shot ricocheted down off the cross bar, there were three United players in the six yard box to TFC’s one. Goalie Greg Sutton stopped Devon McTavish’s header, but couldn’t get a hand on Santino Quaranta’s follow-up, and United surged ahead to a 2-0 lead. Perhaps frustrated by United’s success, Toronto’s Kevin Harmse mistimed a clumsy tackle at the legs of defender Gonzalo Peralta. The referee showed red to the midfielder for his transgression.

Though United enjoyed a man advantage, they didn’t take advantage of it for the remainder of the first half. Each side developed legitimate chances, but strong goalkeeping from both teams kept the score at 2-0. The arrival of veteran Jaime Moreno in the second half gave United the stability and sophistication they needed to put the game away.