DC United have moved into second place in the Eastern Conference after a comfortable victory over bottom-of-the-table Chicago Fire.

The hosts started strongly at RFK Stadium, with Chris Pontius firing an early effort over the bar before Fabian Espindola was crowded out by the Chicago backline as he tried to shoot.

Harry Shipp then went close for the visitors, bringing a save out of keeper Bill Hamid after being teed up by Gilberto.

However, it was the side from the capital who edged in front before half time as Pontius took advantage of a mistake by Razvan Cocis to breeze past Joevin Jones, go round Jon Busch and slide the ball into an empty net.

Bobby Boswell then doubled DC's lead midway through the second period with a pinpoint header from Espindola's corner.

Four minutes later, United made sure of victory as Nick DeLeon found Espindola, whose shot deflected off Lovel Palmer before finding the back of the net.

The hosts then added a fourth as Alvaro Saborio got on the scoresheet with 10 minutes left to move DC into second place, six points behind New York Red Bulls.