Toronto FC scored three goals in a 20-minute span of the second half to beat undermanned D.C. United 4-1 Saturday in a meeting of the two worst teams in MLS.
The win snapped an eight-game league winless streak for Toronto (5-15-11). D.C. United (3-21-6) now hasn't won in eight games.
Bright Dike, Alvaro Rey and Darel Russell scored for Toronto, which also got an own goal. Midfielder Jared Jeffrey replied for D.C. United.
Dike's goal came in the 67th minute after referee Ted Unkel played advantage when a D.C. United defender pulled a Toronto player down. Defender Mark Bloom motored past the wreckage and sent in a cross that Dike volleyed home for his first goal in a Toronto shirt.
Toronto made it 3-1 four minutes later after Rey's cross from in close bounced in off D.C. United defender Conor Shanosky. Rey than dribbled around a string of defenders before slotting the ball home in the 87th minute to pad the lead.
With United playing in the U.S. Open Cup final Tuesday against Real Salt Lake, coach Ben Olsen shuffled his entire starting lineup to rest his starters. That meant no Dwayne De Rosario, Luis Silva, Chris Pontius, Dejan Jakovic, John Thorrington, Nick DeLeon, Bill Hamid or any other starter that featured in last weekend's loss in New England.
United dressed just 16 players, two short of the maximum. Five of the starters were substitutes last week against New England.
The starting lineup included 17-year-old forward Michael Seaton, making his league debut.
Toronto FC was without suspended defender Steven Caldwell, midfielder Jonathan Osorio, manager Ryan Nelsen and assistant coach Fran O'Leary. Assistant coach Jim Brennan, the franchise's first player and captain, ran the sidelines.
Goalie Joe Bendik, resplendent in pink as part of MLS's breast cancer awareness campaign, captained Toronto in Caldwell's absence. Bendik won the starting job after Frei was injured in the first pre-season game.
