D.C. United offered little resistance in their annual beat down at the hands of Real Salt Lake as they lose 3-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium. United has now tied the team record for times being shutout in a season as they suffered their 12th shutout of the year.
It’s a league match not played on a Wednesday night, so expecting a United victory this year in this match is a stretch to begin with, but against the defending champs in their house where DC hasn’t won in five years stretches the realms of what is possible in this current reality, but this is MLS after all and RSL hasn’t looked sharp, while DC is grudgingly looking respectable.
D.C. United and Real Salt Lake play to a 0-0 draw for the second consecutive year at RFK Stadium. This time it was the home side that deserved the full three points. Photo: Martin Fernandez.
After a thrilling Open Cup win over Real Salt Lake, DC United and Santino Quaranta (right) now must prepare for the grudge match in league play a mere three days later. United is riding a three game winning streak, but only one of those matches has counted for points in the standings. Photo: Martin Fernandez.
Andy Najar’s brilliant individual move and strike (right) in the 107th minute was the game-winner for D.C. United. United will now move into the 3rd round of the U.S. Open Cup tournament. Photo: Martin Fernandez.
Recently respectable DC United will have their new found confidence challenged twice by defending MSL Cup Champions, Real Salt Lake, over the next four days. United fans hope that the first test, tomorrow night, keeps the Black-and-Red in the hunt for the US Open Cup..
DC United’s only loss on the season so far was to Real Salt Lake almost six weeks ago, and since then both teams have been heading in completely opposite directions. DC has vaulted to the Eastern Conference lead while RSL has been barely keeping themselves afloat in the West mainly due to other teams playing as poorly as they have.
No fue para menos y se dió la lógica que el fútbol casi no tiene. Real Salt Lake es uno de los equipos que a pesar que es novicio en la MLS (apenas va por su segunda temporada) camina con ritmo ganador y no ha podido ser superado en su casa, el flamante estadio Rio Tinto, en sus dos presentaciones. Batió a DC united washingtoniano remontando marcador.
United puts their undefeated record on the line in a place that has been anything but friendly for the Black and Red the past few years. But, with DC approaching full health for the first time in nearly a year and looking to build on their impressive win over Houston, United might just be ready to reverse their fortunes in Real Salt Lake’s shiny new home.
Unitedmania’s brainstaff take a stab at how the 2009 MLS season will play out in the West. First a few notes about each team, then our picks as well as a few choice comments and analysis afterward.
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