Mears' first MLS goal lifts Sounders past United

SEATTLE- Tyrone Mears scored in the 88th minute for his first MLS goal, leading the Seattle Sounders to a 1-0 victory over the short-handed D.C. United on Friday night.

Mears, a defender in his first season in the league, was outside the top right corner of the penalty area when a ball was headed away from the net toward that spot. Mears took it just inside the box and fired into the left side of the next past goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra.

The Sounders (10-7-2) snapped a three-game losing streak and climbed into a tie with Vancouver atop the Western Conference.

League-leading D.C. (10-6-5) played the majority of the game with just 10 men after forward Fabian Espindola was sent off with a straight red card in the 27th minute for a retaliation foul against Seattle's Zach Scott.

Scott received a yellow card for leveling Espindola in the 13th minute.