On a humid early summer evening in the nation's capital, DC United bounced back from last week's surprising loss to Real Salt Lake by downing the hapless Colorado Rapids 4-1 at RFK Stadium on Thursday night.

The first shot on goal would come from reigning MLS MVP Christian Gomez when he ran onto the end of a Brian Carroll free kick in the seventh minute, but the Argentinean's glancing header was easily contained by Colorado keeper Bouna Coundoul.

Seven minutes later, the visitors would get their first strong chance. Englishman Terry Cooke settled a loose ball and unleashed a shot from outside, forcing DC keeper Troy Perkins airborne to make the save.

In the 19th minute, Cooke would again create opportunity for Colorado. After settling a cross into the box, last year's league leader in assists chipped a soft cross to Jacob Peterson, who was standing at the penalty spot. Peterson's snap header flew past Perkins and into the top corner of the net to give Colorado the early edge.

Just after a half hour, United would answer back. A penalty kick was awarded to DC after Colorado defender Greg Vanney was judged to have handled the ball in the box while on the ground. Replays showed Vanney reaching out for the ball making contact with his hand.

With normal PK-taker Jaime Moreno in Venezuela for Copa America, Christian Gomez stepped up and easily knocked home to tie the game.

Near the end of the first half and at the beginning of the second, each team had several chances to go ahead, but neither could take advantage of the open game play.

The first corner kick of the game would come in the 71st minute. With none awarded in the previous 70 minutes of play, it was the latest first corner kick of a game in MLS history and substitute Nicholas Addlery would make it count.

Addlery, who came on early in the first half for an injured Guy-Roland Kpene, fought to get in front of his defender and head the ball past Coundoul to put DC ahead for good.

Following a 38-minute weather delay that allowed a thunderstorm to pass through, the hosts would add two insurance goals, with Fred opening his MLS account in the 82nd minute and Luciano Emilio adding his seventh goal of the season with three to play.

With the win, United pulls themselves into a tie for third place in the log-jammed Eastern Conference and now lie just two points behind the first place New England Revolution.

After a surprisingly strong start to the season, Fernando Clavijo's Rapids have now dropped five straight games and are fading in the Western Conference, just six points above the league cellar.

Scoring
COL - Jacob Peterson 1 (Terry Cooke, Colin Clark) 19'
DC - Christian Gomez 4 (PK) 34'
DC - Nicholas Addlery 1 (Fred) 71'
DC - Fred 1 (Nicholas Addlery) 82'
DC - Luciano Emilio 7 (Christian Gomez) 87'

Line-ups

COL - Bouna Coundoul; Brandon Prideaux, Dan Gargan, Mike Petke (Chris Wingert 29'), Greg Vanney, Terry Cooke, Pablo Mastroeni (Stephen Keel 71'), Jacob Peterson, Daniel Wasson (Roberto Brown 77'), Colin Clark, Nicolas Hernandez

DCU - Troy Perkins; Devon McTavish, Facundo Erpen, Clyde Simms, Joshua Gros, Brian Carroll, Christian Gomez (Rod Dyachenko 90'), Fred (Marc Burch 86'), Justin Moose, Luciano Emilio, Guy-Roland Kpene (Nicholas Addlery 12')