MLS Eastern Conference leaders DC United came from behind to beat New England Revolution 2-1 in a top-of-the-table clash at the RFK Stadium this morning.

Chris Rolfe struck on 70 minutes to cancel out Charlie Davies's first-half opener, before sending an 82nd-minute penalty past Bill Hamid to seal all three points and stop the rot.

Ben Olsen's side had come into the contest on the back of two straight defeats, and there was little sign that it would be a case of third time lucky when the hosts fell behind on 11 minutes.

Out of nothing, the visitors led 1-0 when Davies - who had a loan spell with United in 2011 - steered Lee Nguyen's pass beyond Hamid, before refusing to celebrate.

It could have been two on 22 minutes, with Nguyen again the architect to set up Chris Tierney this time, but Hamid produced a smart save to preserve the one-goal deficit.

United emerged from the break with renewed confidence and began fashioning goalscoring chances that eluded them in the first half.

Their perseverance paid off on 70 minutes, as the unmarked Rolfe volleyed home Fabian Espindola's clever lofted cross to level up the match.

Having lost their last two, DC would argue that they were due a slice of luck and it came on 82 minutes when Steve Neumann fouled Miguel Aguilar inside the penalty area, before Rolfe sent Bobby Shuttleworth the wrong way to snatch the win.

Revolution, who have a game in hand, drop six points adrift of the leaders.