After a 130 minutes of football on Wednesday, it comes with no surprise scoring was at a premium when D.C. United and Real Salt Lake met again on Saturday. Factor in a struggling offenses, compacted defenses and the summers humidity and you have the recipe for a 0-0 draw. That’s exactly where the match finished when United hosted RSL for the second time in four days. 15, 328 fans came to RFK Stadium hoping to see United continue run of good form, winners of three straight. D.C., arguably the better side for most of the night, were unable to find the back of the net, leaving many of the fans empty-handed.
Clyde Simms nearly put his side ahead in the fourth minute with a low 25-yard strike, but a diving save from Nick Rimando denied the United midfielder. Minutes later, Real’s Will Johnson countered with his out far-post blast, this time deflected by Troy Perkins for a corner. The two teams traded several goal scoring chances throughout the first half. Stephen King gave United its best first-half opportunity 15 minutes in, when he made his way to the top of the 18-yard box ripping a shot at Rimando, but his shot was blocked.
Photo by Sarah and Sean Baker
The United defense took a real hit after 20 minutes, when Rodney Wallace went down after an inadvertant hit to the back of his leg. It was later revealed that Wallace will now miss the next six weeks of action with a left fibula fracture.
Real likely should have scored just before the break when Fabian Espindola’s header bounced over the crossbar. A quick throw-in lead to a cross to Espindola, but the referee whistled him for a foul on Devon McTavish, who came in for Wallace. Seven minutes into the second half, King found himself with another promising opportunity for United. Collecting on a Salt Lake turnover inside the 18, King sent a far-post just wide. Moments later, Andy Najar sent a cross from the right flank into the box. The ball bounced around for awhile until it landed at the feet of King. His shot, again, went wide, this time rattling the goal box and the emotions of the desperate fans.
With time ticking away and a scoreless draw becoming more and more of a possible reality, Santino Quaranta took the ball down the left wing looking to make something happen. The 25-year-old beat two defenders, getting himself inside the box, and let a tumbling effort of shot go toward the right goal post. Like many of the United attempts on the night, Quarantas too was wide. Frustration and disappointment was evident on the faces of the D.C. players, as they had out played the defending MLS champions, but were left with nothing to show for it.
Photo by Sarah and Sean Baker
Neither team could must anymore serious goal-scoring threats as the whistled blew for the end of regulation, meaning the match ended, 0-0.
The draw means that United are now even with the Philadelphia Union for last place in the Eastern Conference, with seven points. The Union hold the edge with a better goal differential. D.C. will now prepare for a west coast swing in its schedule, that begins with a match against the Seattle Sounders on June 10.
