United takes winning streak to Dallas

D.C. United (12-6-3, 39 points) recorded three consecutive road shutouts in August. United went 5-0 in league games during the month, giving up just one goal. And goalkeeper Troy Perkins was named MLS Player of the Month yesterday.

“We’ve learned to play on the road as well as at home,” United coach Tom Soehn said.

United’s success away from RFK Stadium will be tested tonight, when it visits FC Dallas (11-7-3, 36 points). United’s five-game MLS winning streak is its longest of the season.

“It’s a combination of a lot of things we have been doing right, and that breeds confidence in everybody,” Soehn said.

During the winning streak, United is getting its share of lucky breaks. United had one good shot in its 1-0 win over Toronto FC on Saturday, but Fred’s shot was deflected into the goal for the game-winner. In a 3-1 win over the Red Bulls, two deflected balls by United led to goals.

“When you put together a winning streak, there’s always a bit of luck involved,” defender Marc Burch said.

United has won its last two games in Dallas, but FC Dallas has two of the league’s most dangerous players in Carlos Ruiz (four goals) and Juan Toja (six goals).

This week, Dallas added Brazilian midfielder Denilson to its roster. Denilson, 30, was awarded a work permit yesterday and could make his debut tonight. Famous for his step-overs on the ball, Denilson was once the highest-paid player in the world and helped lead Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title.

“In the context of the MLS, only the signing of [David] Beckham is bigger,” said Clark Hunt, the head of Hunt Sports Group, which owns FC Dallas. “There is an argument to be made that he would probably be the best player in our league.”

The Brazilian is the fifth international star to join the league under the new designated player rule, which allows each team to sign a player with only $400,000 counting against the salary cap.

The others are Beckham, Juan Pablo Angel, Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Claudio Reyna.

United is just three points behind the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference standings, but United plays host to the Revolution on Sept. 9. That game could determine whether United can reclaim the Supporters’ Shield, which goes to the team with the most points in the regular season. That team also earns a spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Galaxy of troubles — The Los Angeles Galaxy (3-10-5, 14 points) are in danger of not making the playoffs. The two-time MLS champions have won just three games, and they are 13 points out of a playoff spot.

To make matters worse, the Galaxy lost in the SuperLiga Cup final Wednesday to Mexican team Pachuca, and Beckham sprained his knee 33 minutes into the match and will be out for six weeks.

There are rumors circulating that former German star Jurgen Klinsmann, who lives in the Los Angeles area, might replace coach Frank Yallop.

Scoreless streak — The expansion Toronto FC (5-12-5, 20 points) has not scored a goal in eight games, an MLS record.