I don't necessarily think these teams are winning them," midfielder Ben Olsen said to The Washington Post. "We're just shooting ourselves in the foot, over and over. These are tough times and I know we're going to turn it around, but it's hard right now."
It was also another difficult result after a six-game unbeaten run where United felt they had started a late-season surge as a year ago where they rolled to the a fourth MLS Cup.
"We keep beating ourselves. We know soccer doesn't end until the referee blows the whistle and we've just got to keep working and not make so many mistakes," Moreno told the Post. " ... It's a slap in the face to wake us up and realize there are people out there that want to beat us badly. We missed a good opportunity tonight."
Freddy Adu made his first league appearance since Aug. 6, a span of three games, after suffering a knee injury in a victory against the Chicago Fire.
"I was thinking that Freddy (Adu) was going to give us a little spark, especially up front because we didn't really have Jaime (Moreno)," Nowak said. Santino (Quaranta) moved back, so we didn't really have anyone up front to keep the ball and to provide a little bit of offensive power. That's why we decided to go with Freddy in the last (few) minutes."
Facundo Erpen made his league debut, battling with Twellman for the entire 90 minutes. The two had a tussle just before the end of full time, Erpen booked for exaggeration after Twellman swiped at him. But Twellman had the last laugh, getting over the Argentinean for the game-winning goal.
Kovalenko was also sent off for a second consecutive match. He was sent off in the second half of the Open Cup match, but his suspension will be served in his club's next match in that competition. The suspension for the sending off in the Revolution match will be served Wednesday.
On Monday, United lost 6-2 to the Colorado Rapids in the Hall of Fame game in Oneonta, N.Y., the match surroundings the festivities that saw John Harkes, Marcelo Balboa, Tab Ramos and current Colorado coach Fernando Clavijo into the pantheon of U.S. soccer greats.
Matt Nickell and Shawn Kuykendall gave United an early two-goal lead, but Clavijo's finish after he was passed a penalty kick by Balboa and David Ben-Dayan goal pulled the Rapids level heading into the break.
In the second half, the Rapids blew the game open on goals from Luchi Gonzalez (another penalty), Ricky Lewis, Stephen Keel and Ben-Dayan's second.
United was coached by assistant coach Tom Soehn, who sent out a team filled with reserves. Here's United's team: Troy Perkins (Andrew Weber) - John Harkes (Stephen Deroux), Nick Van Sicklen (Ian Rodway), Tim Merritt, Kenny Arena, Clyde Simms, Jason Thompson, Nana Kuffour, John Wilson, Shawn Kuykendall, Matt Nickell.REAL SALT LAKE
Real Salt Lake have had 10 days off since their last match, a 1-0 loss at home to the San Jose Earthquakes on Aug. 20 that was their third loss in a row and 12th in their last 16 matches in all competitions. Real are still in fifth place in the Western Conference with 19 points from 23 matches, nine points out of the final playoff spot held by the Colorado Rapids and five points ahead of last-place Chivas USA.
Real Salt Lake striker Jason Kreis was honored with a pregame ceremony following his 100th career MLS goal last weekend, as Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman proclaimed it "Jason Kreis Day" in the state, but at the end of the night the San Jose Earthquakes just kept rolling along.
Mark Chung scored the game's only goal four minutes before the end of the first half, cutting back inside a defender before beating RSL rookie 'keeper Jay Nolly inside his near post as San Jose extended their unbeaten run to four games, now with just one loss since the start of June.
Real head coach John Ellinger made two changes to the team that lost 4-2 at home to the Kansas City Wizards four days before, though the change required a tactical refit. Eddie Pope was out with an ankle injury and Robert Scarlett made his MLS debut on the left of midfield, as Rusty Pierce returned to the back four. In addition, Jay Nolly came in between the posts for D.J. Countess.
Here's Ellinger's team (4-1-3-2): Jay Nolly - Rusty Pierce (Adolfo Gregorio 46), Nelson Akwari, Brian Dunseth (Brian Kamler 85), Paul Broome - Kenny Cutler - Chris Brown, Andy Williams, Robert Scarlett - Jason Kreis, Jordan Cila (Dante Washington 64)
"In the first half, I thought that we did well in the first 25 minutes with good posession, but not a lot of good looks at goal. They (San Jose) are a good team that didn't make any mistakes. And they got some help," Ellinger said. " ... You have got to get more dangerous in the final third and do better with our chances in goal. We certainly had some [chances] in the second half." TEAM NEWS
After seeing Real give up four goals in each of their last two games, Nolly was beaten just once in his second league start. But unfortunately, his teammates couldn't get anything past Earthquakes 'keeper Pat Onstad. Nolly's only previous start came May 14 - a 2-1 victory against Los Angeles Galaxy - after Countess was injured the week before.
"It is nice that even though I am a rookie I am getting a chance," Nolly said. "But now I have to prove myself and show that I belong in this league."
Kreis was moved by the pregame ceremony, which included a video showing most - if not all - of his 100 MLS goals.
"It was great just to see the reception I got, first of all from my teammates, from the organization and my family," Kreis said. "... This means much more to me than being the league's all-time leading scorer. This reflects all the blood, sweat and tears I have put in and that means a lot."
"Jason is somebody we feel embodies everything that this organization stands for and that is why we made him our first player," Real general manager Steve Pastorino said. "It is great to be able to share this milestone with him."
Scarlett started on the left side of midfield, and his pace helped RSL get behind the Earthquakes defense early on. Gregorio came on for Andy Williams on the right wing in the second half, and he put in some very useful balls as Real chased the equalizer.
Scarlett "is a dangerous player," Ellinger said. "I felt that he fatigued a little bit at the end; it's a little different playing . . . at sea level than playing here, and that had to be difficult for him. But, he's a special player, and he'll get better and better. And I also though Adolfo played well."
Ellinger said he will make a late decision as to who will start in goal. He said it was a case of being displeased with the play of Countess, but rather looking for a different view.
"It's something different and we'll see how it goes," Ellinger told the Salt Lake Tribune. "We've given up goals in the first 15 [minutes] and I think we have to stop. ... There is some point in the game where we've just got to stop digging holes for ourselves."
While Real had 10 days off from league wars, they played Harbour View FC of Jamaica to a 1-1 draw at midweek in Salt Lake City. Lovel Palmer scored in the 56th minute to give the visitors the lead, but Nelson Akwari countered for RSL in the 64th off a service from former Harbour View midfielder Robert Scarlett.
Here's Ellinger's team: Jay Nolly (D.J. Countess 46), Nelson Akwari, Brian Dunseth, Gustavo Cabrera, Paul Broome, Seth Trembly (Adolfo Gregorio 46), Clint Mathis (Brian Kamler 71), Kenny Cutler (Leslie Fitzpatrick 46), Robert Scarlett, Jordan Cila (Jamie Watson 46), Andy Williams.
