Real Salt Lake scored four goals, on the road, against the Eastern Conference leaders. The only problem is they gave up six more.
RSL lost 6-4 to D.C. United in a barnburner at RFK Stadium on Saturday night. The Utah club scored the first two goals of the match before breaking down defensively, giving up 6 goals in 43 minutes to United. Despite scoring four goals for the first time this season, RSL gave away three points and saw their three-game winning streak end.
During the post-game interview, RSL head coach Jeff Cassar said that the main culprit for the defensive let down was decision making.
“I’m not going to point out the points right now. But I think there are some key decision-making decisions that we got wrong. We tried to play out of a couple of tough areas, gave up a set play goal, got stretched out. Typically when you score four goals on the road, you’re going to win a game. But, we’ve got to put this behind us very quickly and move on to Guatemala.”
The visitors started out bright, getting two early goals courtesy of forward Joao Plata, and then Kyle Beckerman, who recently returned from national team duty at the Gold Cup. Beckerman blasted a long-range rocket in the 21st minute and Plata put his second minute goal away from the top of the box.
RSL were inches away from getting a third, but Sandoval’s finish was just wide of the mark in the 37th minute. Minutes later, United pulled one back through the feet of forward Chris Rolfe and RSL entered the half a bit deflated.
“At halftime we discussed it,” Cassar said. “We discussed not letting them cut inside, making sure we keep them out wide and we seemed to always allow [Nick] DeLeon and Rolfe to cut in, which is what they want to do. We didn’t adapt well to that.”
D.C. went on to score five goals in the second half with Rolfe, Taylor Kemp, Fabian Espindola, Perry Kitchen and DeLeon all getting on the scoresheet.
In the 68th minute RSL defender Abdoulie Mansally showcased excellent individual speed and skill, blasting a tight angle shot into the net, tying the match at 4-4. It seemed like it was anyone’s game, but it was D.C. who came through in the end with two more moments of brilliance, sealing the win.
“A tie would've been nice, but it wouldn't have done much in the standings," Beckerman said. "But I think we felt when we got it to 4-4 there was no reason why we couldn't go win it. And we were just on the other end of it.”
RSL have no time to ponder the potential lasting effects of such a wild game. They must switch gears immediately with their opening CONCACAF Champions League match against Guatemalan side CSD Municipal looming on Tuesday.
"We gotta get going," Beckerman said immediately after the match. "We don't have any more time to wait."
