WASHINGTON (AP) Chris Pontius and Eddie Johnson scored and D.C. United beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 on Saturday night.
United (17-9-7) stretched its unbeaten streak to five games, clinching first place in the Eastern Conference - and the biggest single-season turnaround in MLS history, rebounding from last year's 24-loss season.
United opened the scoring at the 31-minute mark when Pontius headed a perfect cross from Eddie Johnson past Kyle Renish into the lower left corner. It was Pontius' first goal after missing most of the season due to injury.
Johnson added to the total in the 53rd minute, forcing a turnover in the Chicago end and firing a shot to upper left corner for his seventh goal of the season.
Harrison Shipp scored his seventh for Chicago (5-10-18) in the 67th minute. The Fire are winless in eight matches.
