Galaxy withers in loss

WASHINGTON -- The Galaxy wilted in the heat during David Beckham’s annual visit to the nation’s capital, hardly the best scenario against a D.C. United team that is scoring goals in bunches.

Luciano Emilio struck twice, Marcelo Gallardo had a goal and Jaime Moreno converted a penalty kick Sunday as United won its fourth game in a row, dominating the second half of a 4-1 victory over the Galaxy in front of a season-high 35,979 at steamy RFK Stadium.

“In the second half, you see players that really suffered from the heat,” Galaxy Coach Ruud Gullit said. “They were exhausted. It’s extreme for a player to play in this heat -- and the humidity also.”

After a 2-7 start that brought into serious question the franchise’s major off-season moves, United has rebounded to go unbeaten in six games. It has scored 18 goals in that span, led by nine from Emilio. He now has 10 goals on the season, only one behind league leaders Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle of the Galaxy.

The game matched the two teams that lead the league in both goals scored and goals given up, but only United maintained its offensive prowess for the full 90 minutes. The Galaxy’s only goal came from Buddle.

Meanwhile, Donovan’s highlight moment was a painful one -- a bloody whack in the nose from Gallardo’s forearm in the first half. Gallardo was assessed a yellow card instead of a red-card ejection, and Donovan got his own yellow card for arguing the call. Gallardo eventually scored to give United a 3-1 lead, long after the Galaxy thought he should have been sent to the showers.