E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - No one seems to know exactly what the reason is, but this much is clear: D.C. United is struggling right now. After dropping a 1-0 road decision to the New York Red Bulls on Sunday evening, MLS' most successful club is now winless in its last three games.
That's certainly not the position United wants to be in heading into to a high-profile match against Mexican outfit Monarcas Morelia in its SuperLiga opener at RFK Stadium on Wednesday night.
Against New York, D.C. was missing several veteran starters, including influential midfielder Ben Olsen (yellow card accumulation) and team captain Jaime Moreno (hamstring). But first-year head coach Tom Soehn wasn't about to blame the loss on the absence of a few regulars.
"We have no excuses," Soehn said afterward. "Whether we were shorthanded or not, it doesn't matter. The guys that are out there have an opportunity and we need to do better."
Soehn cited a lack of commitment in the first half for his team's struggles against the Red Bulls, a squad that has suffered through its own dip in form in recent weeks.
"I didn't think we came out with the intensity we needed in the first half," Soehn said. "The second half was a little better, but we couldn't get it done."
Goalkeeper Troy Perkins agreed with his coach.
"We're lacking something right now and we need to figure out what it is," he said. "I think from front to back, each of us can contribute more."
Despite the dour mood in the visitors locker room following the loss, D.C. did have opportunities to escape the Swamp with at least a point. None of them was better that when reserve forward Nicholas Addlery found himself one-on-one with New York keeper Jon Conway shortly after coming into the match in the 55th minute. But after collecting a brilliant pass from midfield maestro Christian Gomez, Addlery hit his strike straight at the home team's backstop.
"I had the whole right side of the net open and I hit it right at him," said Addlery. "I'm pretty disappointed right now."
Addlery headed another Gomez service wide in the waning moments, but the story of that particular play was referee Abbey Okulaja ignoring a potential penalty when Brazilian forward Fred's shirt was held inside the area.
"I think it should have been a penalty," Fred said through an interpreter. "I couldn't get to the ball because the guy had a hold of my shirt."
D.C. now will take a break from league play to participate in three consecutive SuperLiga games. After meeting Morelia, United faces Club America at RFK next Sunday before traveling to Houston to face MLS champion Dynamo.
"It's tough," said United and U.S. national team defender Bobby Boswell of his team's recent slump. "You want to be playing well with a chance to face some of the better teams in the region. You'd like to be hot, not the other way around."
Doug McIntyre is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
