WASHINGTON (AP) -- On a night when fans were calling for the coach to be fired, D.C. United broke a club-record five-game losing streak with Wednesday's 2-1 victory over the New York-New Jersey MetroStars.

Substitute Abdul Thompson Conteh scored the winning goal on a breakaway in the 78th minute, splitting two defenders on a 50-yard run after receiving a pass from Mark Lisi. Conteh has seven of United's 19 goals this season.

The victory wasn't nearly enough to pull United out of last place in the Eastern Division. The frustration showed in a protest organized over the Internet by fans against coach Thomas Rongen. At least two "Fire the coach" banners were raised in the stands at RFK Stadium, while another read "Wrongen must go."

"I hope the people will just be patient," Rongen said. "It's a free country. You can bring banners and scream, that's fine. But please just be patient with this young team."

Rodrigo Faria scored in the 10th minute for the MetroStars, 0-3-2 on the road this season. Jaime Moreno tied it in the 69th minute on a goal that deflected off defender Mike Petke.

MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard was the star for most of the game, making a career-high 10 saves in a game in which his team was outshot 20-6. He made a block on Chris Albright's breakaway in the 13th minute, a two-handed save against Moreno in the 18th and a one-handed leaping save against Moreno in the 28th.

The MetroStars played without midfielders Richie Williams (national team duty) and Pedro Alvarez (one-game suspension) and forward Clint Mathis (torn knee ligament). They also lost Petter Villegas to a sprained left knee in the seventh minute, and Steve Shak to a sprained right knee in the 44th.

United was missing three starters for various national team duties: Eddie Pope, Bobby Convey and Ryan Nelsen. Stephen Armstrong started in his United debut, having signed with the team earlier in the day after popular forward Raul Diaz Arce was traded to Colorado.