D.C. United 0, Real Salt Lake 0
Due to the break that Major League Soccer will take for the World Cup, Saturday night saw D.C. United’s last regular season match at RFK Stadium until July. With that in mind, the home team wanted to make the most of the opportunity to prove that their recent turnaround is indeed for real and gave their fans, and themselves, something to look forward to when they return in a month.
Their first shutout of the year, against Real Salt Lake – the defending MLS Cup champions and highest scoring team in the league – would’ve done just the trick, except United knows it should’ve had more than a 0-0 draw.
Midfielder Stephen King’s pair of crucial misses and a handful of saves from Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando against his former club left United (2-8-1) unsatisfied despite extending its unbeaten streak to four games in all competitions.
“It was just one of those games where twice I shoot it, and you wish you had it back right away,” said King. “I’m frustrated with myself because obviously, I want to do whatever I can to help this team win, and it’s one of those ties where it feels like a loss.”
Two times in five minutes King found a way to miss wide-open shots from spots inside the box where should’ve been automatic. He impossibly ripped one wide right in the 53rd minute, and five minutes later came so close on the opposite side of the net that most of the 15,328 in attendance – including forward Jaime Moreno, an injured scratch who spent the evening banging drums and singing with the Barra Brava – were convinced he’d scored.
“When we missed the second one, I’m thinking to myself, ‘Oh no, this is one of those games,’” said United head coach Curt Onalfo, whose team has given up half of its goals this season in the final 30 minutes. “But our guys persevered and made sure we didn’t let anything happen at the other end. We’re making good progress, and we’re going to build on it.”
Salt Lake (6-3-2) came in having won five straight in league play, but United did beat them just three days prior in a U.S. Open Cup qualifier, 2-1, in overtime. On Saturday D.C. improved to 4-0-3 all-time vs. RSL at RFK Stadium.
Jordan Graye’s cross nearly found the corner of the goal off Salt Lake defender Nat Borchers’ boot in the third minute, and Clyde Simms forced former Rimando into a sprawling parry a moment later. Both chances started with stellar individual plays from Andy Najar, who was bursting with confidence after having scored the game winner on Wednesday.
At the other end, Troy Perkins reclaimed his place in goal from Bill Hamid but didn’t have to make save until diving left to push away Will Johnson’s just-in-case blast in the 90th minute.
“I had to get on the scoreboard,” joked Perkins. “The team did well. The guys in front of me worked their [rears] off, and as a unit, we’re finally starting to play really well. A little unlucky not to get one tonight, but the guys are really starting to gel.”
The visitors’ best chance of the first half came on Johnson’s drive from a narrow angle in the 12th minute, and Perkins was equal to a bevy of crosses and corner kicks in the second half.
Dejan Jakovic, making his first appearance since breaking his collarbone on April 10, helped solidify the defense.
“The goals will come,” said Jakovic. “The main key was defensively, can we defend as a team. As you can see, it’s really hard to break us down now so I think that’s a positive.”
Note: Rodney Wallace left the match in the first half with a bone bruise to his left leg after getting kicked by Real Salt Lake forward Alvaro Saborio.
