It was a must win on a hot, muggy night in our nation’s capital, and veteran goalkeeper Kasey Keller was the embodiment of true grit in a hard fought 1-0 win for the Seattle Sounders over host D.C. United before 13,716 fans at RFK Stadium and a national ESPN2 television audience.

Nothing would stand in the way of Keller’s successful pursuit of a clean sheet, not even injury.

Keller made five saves to earn his fifth shutout of the season, despite playing the final 25 minutes with a right mid-foot sprain that occurred on a challenge after he came out of the goalkeeper’s area.

In the late stages, coaches Sigi Schmid of Seattle and Curt Onalfo of D.C. United, both feeling an intense need for a win and three valuable points, poured substitutes onto the RFK pitch in pursuit of a late score.

The strategy worked for Schmid, as Sanna Nyassi was credited with an assist just one minute after entering the match. It was his first point in league play.

The scoring effort culminated in the 89th minute, as Fredy Montero crossed a ball from the end line on the right flank to a diving Roger Levesque at the far post. Levesque headed it past goalkeeper Troy Perkins for his first goal this season.

For Montero it was his seventh assist of the campaign, which places him in a tie for third in the MLS.

This was Levesque's first start since April 22nd. He has scored in three of the last four road wins and also scored in last year's Open Cup final in Washington, D.C.

As for Keller, in the 65th minute he vacated his box to make a tackle but stayed down with a foot injury. Play continued as Santino Quaranta blasted a shot on an empty goal that was headed away by an alert Patrick Ianni.

On the ensuing corner kick, Keller made a save at the far post on Pablo Hernandez's header.

Keller also made two stops on counterattacks by Andy Najar in the eighth and 51st minutes.

For Keller, RFK is a venue of satisfaction and accomplishment. The veteran goalkeeper remains undefeated at RFK Stadium with an 8-0-2 mark, which includes seven starts for the U.S. National Team.

The victory gives the Sounders a 5-8-4 record. Every victory has come against Eastern Conference opponents.

The team now sits only three points removed from third place in the Western Conference. Seattle has 19 points of the 45 point total that Coach Schmid estimates it will take to make the playoffs.

This victory marks the first in five matches for the Sounders dating back to a 3-0 home win over New England on June 5th. It was followed five days later with a 3-2 loss in Seattle to D.C. United.

The loss virtually rang down the curtain on any hope that D.C. United held of making the playoffs. It stands at 3-10-3 with 12 points. This marked the first loss for D.C. United in four matches and leaves the team in seventh place in the East.

Seattle held the overall advantage in shots at 15-10 and an 11-3 edge on corner kicks. D.C. United gained a 6-5 lead on goal shots.

Blaise Nkufo was officially added to the Seattle roster Thursday but did not see action. He had his first workout with the team Wednesday.

Sounders FC hosts Scotland's Celtic FC on Sunday in another ESPN2 match, a friendly on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. PT.

The Sounders launch another busy week starting July 25th, when Seattle meets the Colorado Rapids at home.

The CONCACAF Champions League play-in series begins July 28th against El Salvador's Metapán, also on the Seattle home pitch.

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