D.C. United’s struggles on far western road trips are no surprise, but the team’s occasional habit of allowing late goals on the road is a concern.
United (13-2-6) could still be on the verge of the MLS single-season record for points, but in four of the past five seasons, D.C. has failed to win a single regular season game in the Mountain or Western time zones. United fell at Real Salt Lake, 2-1, on Saturday. Both Real Salt Lake goals came on penalty kicks, in the 90th minute and stoppage play, respectively.
Last year, D.C. went 3-1-1 in road matches against Real Salt Lake, San Jose, Los Angeles, Chivas USA and Colorado. That followed four consecutive years in which United was winless on the road against the Earthquakes, Galaxy and Rapids.
Even during its championship run in 2004, D.C. went 0-2-2 during the regular season out West, though it captured the MLS Cup at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. That match was against Kansas City, not Los Angeles.
Both of United’s losses this season occurred when the opposition scored on a penalty kick.
“We didn’t get two PKs to beat us,” said United coach Peter Nowak. “They got one in Colorado, they beat us and [Saturday] they had two, that’s it.”
Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Salt Lake was also the third time this season United has squandered a win by allowing a goal after the 85th minute. But D.C. still maintains a 19-point advantage over its closest Eastern Conference rival.
