Germantown, Maryland (ap) - JOSHUA GROS' GOAL in the 65th minute snapped a second-half tie and D.C. United edged Harbour View F.C. of Jamaica last night in the first round of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
Gros scored on a header less than a minute after Harbour View goalkeeper Leighton Murray stopped Alecko Eskandarian on a one-on-one chance from nine yards out.
Christian Gomez played a pass from the left wing that Gros turned into a looping head shot from about seven yards out. The ball floated just over the fingers of a fully extended Murray, bounced in front of the goal line and into the net.
Eskandarian also scored for United. Luton Shelton had a goal for Harbour View.
United, the defending Major Soccer League champion, travel to Kingston, Jamaica, on March 16 for the second leg of the home-and-home series.
Freezing night
The game, played at Maryland SoccerPlex, drew a crowd of 3,825 on a freezing night.
United took a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute on a goal by Eskandarian. Penned in along the left flank, Freddie Adu sent a crossing pass into the penalty area, where an unmarked Eskandarian converted on a sweeping left-footed shot.
Shelton tied it in the 23rd minute as Harbour View took advantage of an error. Goalkeeper Nick Rimando couldn't handle a long ball at the top of the box and the ball bounced behind him to Shelton, who shot into an empty net.