WASHINGTON -- Earnie Stewart scored twice and D.C. United beat El Salvador 3-1 in an exhibition match Saturday night.
Alfredo Pacheco scored for El Salvador, which is rebuilding its team in preparation for the 2006 World Cup.
Marco Etcheverry also scored for D.C., which erased an early 1-0 deficit.
United's first home game against a national team drew 23,269 to RFK Stadium. But the crowd was pro-El Salvador, wildly cheering the visitors and jeering the home team.
El Salvador took the lead in the sixth minute on a free-kick goal by Pacheco.
From 30 yards out, Pacheco lofted a looping ball between goalkeeper Nick Rimando's hands and off the crossbar. The ball bounced down, then back up off the goal line, brushing the inside of the crossbar a second time before entering the net.
Stewart and Etcheverry tallied about 13 minutes apart later in the first half for a 2-1 D.C. lead.
Both goals were set up by Salvadorans playing for United and trying to make an impression on national team coach Juan Ramon Paredes, who will select players for next year's World Cup qualifying matches.
In the 24th minute, Ronald Cerritos saved his own rebound at the touch line and fed a centering pass to Stewart, who converted from 6 yards out.
Eliseo Quintanilla's hard drive from 16 yards out in the 39th minute glanced off the crossbar, but ricocheted to Etcheverry, who right-footed the rebound past goalie Santos Rivera.
Stewart made it 3-1 in the 50th minute, sending a bouncing, low shot from the right side through traffic and inside the right post.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
= Sporting News Radio Pass