Commerce City, CO (Sports Network) - Christian Gomez played for D.C. United for four seasons, collecting a league MVP award as well as 39 goals and 29 assists. After being traded this offseason, Sunday afternoon's game was his first in Major League Soccer against his former club as the Colorado Rapids hosted United in a league fixture.
Gomez responded by helping lead the Rapids to a 2-0 win over United at Dicks Sporting Goods Park, which also snapped a two-game losing streak for his new club. Gomez assisted on both goals - by Jacob Peterson and Facundo Erpen.
The game started out with neither team creating many chances in the first half, but shortly after the break the home Rapids broke the deadlock. Gomez took control of the ball at midfield and drove into the United end of the field before pushing a pass to Peterson on the right side. The third-year player then fired a looping shot from just outside the penalty area and out of the reach of a diving Zach Wells for his first goal of the season.
Less than 20 minutes later, second half substitute Terry Cooke took a pass from Gomez in the box and lifted a cross into the six that was headed home by Erpen for his first goal of the season.
With the victory, Colorado (3-3-0) moves into a tie with Dallas atop the Western table. The loss keeps United (2-4-0) in last place in the Eastern table, nine points back of leaders the Columbus Crew.
D.C. will look to improve its place in the standings when it hosts Chicago on Thursday while Colorado plays at Houston on Saturday in its next league fixture.