Though they entered the match fatigued and shorthanded, D.C. United could not help but feel ambivalent about their 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake at RFK Stadium on Saturday night. Despite enjoying the majority of possession, the Black-and-Red failed to convert their chances and paid the price against a side they clearly believe they should have beaten.
"I think we're satisfied with our overall play and our performance tonight," said midfielder Ben Olsen. "I think we got back to dominating and playing the way we want to play. Saying that, we got a tie today in a game I think we should've won."
Freddy Adu's exquisite free kick gave D.C. the lead in the final minutes of the first half. But Real hauled themselves back into the match thanks to the scrappy efforts of Jeff Cunningham, who fed Chris Klein for a 65th-minute equalizer that enabled the Utah club to leave Washington with a valuable road point that could prove crucial in their hunt for a playoff spot.
"We need to be a little bit smarter," said United head coach Peter Nowak. "We're leading 1-0 and I told them, we still have inexperienced guys playing in the game. ... We played very good in the first half, the ball was moving very well, and the last half didn't go as we wanted."
Real showed little of the deference they accorded United in their last visit to RFK, a 5-1 thrashing that humiliated the expansion club just over a year ago.
"These teams are fighting for playoff spots," said Olsen, "and it's going to be tough because we have to do all the little things right. The little bounces that are not going our way, we're getting punished for. Sometimes you luck out if you don't do the right thing. Now these teams are all playing for a playoff spot. They're fighting for their lives here, and when they do get their chance, they're punishing us."
But D.C. can also take heart in their display, given that a host of yellow card suspensions robbed Nowak of four regular starters while captain Jaime Moreno was fighting through a case of IT band tendonitis that clearly affected his play.
The Eastern Conference leaders tried out a new look on their back line as Brandon Prideaux took Bobby Boswell's center back spot, while Facundo Erpen and Bryan Namoff reversed roles to make life easier for their respective wingers. The reorganized defense played well, allowing just three shots on goal, while goalkeeper Nick Rimando performed capably in his first league start of 2006.
"The reason for the switch with Facundo and I was communication with our new player Donnet, with [his] Argentinian background," said Namoff. "And I was able to provide better communication to Stephen deRoux coming on for his first start."
United's reserves made significant contributions, as deRoux produced a lively display on the left wing while Rod Dyachenko labored industriously to fill Christian Gomez's attacking midfielder role. Both players were making their first-ever MLS starts.
"Even though we had some guys out, the guys that stepped in did very well," said Clyde Simms. "It was exciting to see them play. But definitely frustrating - I think we controlled most of the game and had better chances. Some of [Real's] chances were definitely against the run of play. But that's how soccer is."
United's recent refereeing travails continued as Baldomero Toledo cut the home side little slack, waving off several penalty appeals on heavy RSL challenges in the 18-yard box and missing what D.C. felt was a clear foul just seconds before the Salt Lake leveler.
"Some days things go your way and some days they don't," said Adu, "because we felt like we should've gotten a foul on Namoff getting fouled before that goal happened, but it didn't happen, so whatever. We're just going to keep working."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
