WASHINGTON — Maybe it’s a run of bad luck for D.C. United, but the Seattle Sounders are starting to like playing at RFK stadium.  A crushing 89th-minute header from Roger Levesque on Thursday saw the Sounders claim another victory in the nation’s capital.

Seattle is 3-0 all-time playing in D.C., including a 2-1 win in last years U.S. Open Cup championship.

The match’s first few minutes saw Seattle meddle with the United defense.  Freddy Montero and Steve Zakuani registered a pair of shots toward goal, neither attempt bothered Troy Perkins, but the Sounder attack appeared ready to go.

Having defeated Seattle, 3-2, in June, the D.C. attack was confident in its own abilities as it began to test veteran netminder, Kasey Keller.

An 18-yard-shot from Stephen King drew a diving save from Keller in the 18th minute.  Jaime Moreno was seemingly taken down just inside the box as he chased after the rebound, but the referee wanting nothing to do with it.

Before the match, United defender, Bryan Namoff announced the suspension of his playing career.  The 26th minute saw the United supporters thank their seasoned defender for his service to the team.  Not seeing the kind of progress he and the D.C. organization would have hoped for, the 31-year-old will now shift his focus toward a technical director spot in the front office.  He still holds out hope for a possible return to the black and red next season.

Someone who didn’t stop for the tribute was Zakuani.  The Seattle forward headed toward goal before Julius James exhibited some marvelous defending.

As he has done so many times before, United’s young star, Andy Najar responded with something worth cheering for.  The announced crowd of 13,716 rose to their feet thinking Najar had just given them the lead, but the shot had only rattled the side netting as the teams closed in on the break scoreless.

Eleven minutes into the second half, one of United’s two newest acquisitions, Pablo Hernandez, made his MLS debut, coming on for Moreno.

A quick move to his right in the 59th minute saw Chris Pontius fire on a shot away, but his attempt was wide of the sticks.

D.C. kept up the pressure a strange turn of events down the right flank.  Racing down the sideline, Najar was approaching goal when Keller came well off his line to make the tackle.  The result was an injured Keller away from goal and Najar searching for options in the corner.  A pass back to the top saw Santino Quaranta lob a shot to the back post, but his effort was denied as by the head of Seattle defender.

Soon enough head coach Curt Onalfo brougt on his other newest weapon, Branko Boskovic, to replace King in the midfield.

Having been denied once, Quaranta fired the best shot of the night from the top of the 18.  Unfortunately for United, Keller managed to push the shot away.

In the 89th minute, D.C. appeared to have run a Sounders counterattack out of bounds, but Montero managed to get a cross off.  It landed perfectly at the back post.  Having beaten Dejan Jakovic, Seattle’s Levesque headed the cross past a tardy Perkins.

Frustration, as it has most of the season, mounted on the faces of the United players.  Quality chances were difficult to find all night and when they were discovered they were never converted.

As United walked off the field having had three points taken from them, the hearts and emotions of struggling franchise went with them.

D.C. faces the league-leading L.A. Galaxy on Sunday at RFK, with the match scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.