Consistency is of pinnacle importance to a team's success at the highest level of club soccer. Unfortunately for D.C. United, finding consistency and keeping it has been this season's significant challenge. After dropping three points on the road to the New England Revolution midweek, the squad had alternated wins and losses in their previous five matches. On the plus side, their opponents on Saturday night were their Western Conference mirror image - the Colorado Rapids had succeeded in taking the maximum return in only three matches since the beginning of June. With both teams on the fringes of the MLS playoff race - United currently in seventh position, and the Rapids four points off the pace - something had to give.

And it did. United found the required consistency in their attack, dispatching the Rapids 3-0 on Saturday night, and spoiling the return of former United MVP Christian Gomez to RFK.

With a crowd of 17,283 watching (including a moderately-sized contingency from Philadelphia, assumedly scouting their rivals ahead of entering the league in 2010), United fielded a team bereft of usual first-teamers Fred, Marcelo Gallardo, Gonzalo Peralta, and keeper Zack Wells - so a large amount of the game hinged on the newest member of the squad, goalie Louis Crayton. The Liberian national team captain, who joined United earlier this month from Swiss outfit FC Basel, was active and vocal - cementing his reputation as a solid leader behind United's back line.

Brian Namoff slips a through ball past the Colorado defender. (Kyle Gustafson / www.photoklye.com)

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Early on, D.C.'s patchwork midfield were looking to find their cohesiveness. As a result, the players on the pitch seemed very tentative, rarely departing their designated assignments to attack. United did push forward enough to slightly challenge the Colorado defense, though - Ivan Guerrero found Namoff with a beauty of a through ball down the right in the 12th minute, but full back Craig Thompson - who played a large role in attack for much of the game - blasted his drive inside the box into the waiting hands of Rapids keeper Preston Burpo.

Colorado's chances at net were limited mainly to free kicks off the boot of midfielder Terry Cooke, which hardly challenged Crayton. Striker Conor Casey's 6-1 frame caused a few bumps on 50-50 balls, and the Rapids' dome-headed striker was visibly frustrated at the lack of calls going his way in the first half - a sentiment echoed by the Rapids bench, who more than once had to be warned by the fourth official to calm down.

Coach Tom Soehn noted that it "took the team a while to get our rhythm and flow, but we eventually got our chances." To wit: the half ended with a flurry of chances at net, earning the Black-and-Red their first tally of the match - a beautiful ball into the penalty area from Guerrero was settled by Emilio, who turned, composed, and laid off a beautiful pass to midfielder Joe Vide. Vide then proceeded to blast a strike past a diving Burpo. It was Vide's first career MLS goal in nine career games. Right off the restart, Crayton responded with a gorgeous finger tip save right before the half to preserve United's new found lead going into the half.

United played solid possession football from the second half whistle. Colorado lacked any real incision through the midfield, and could muster little going forward on the counter attack. Casey's job become much more difficult as Colorado coach Gary Smith quizzically opted to leave him up top alone, constantly fighting two and three United back liners to long balls sent in his direction.

Almost half way through the half, two Rapids defenders seemed to bungle over Quaranta as he almost broke loose through the heart of the pitch; and then again seconds later, this time in the penalty area. But Alex Prus' whistle kept silent, much to the chagrin of the United supporters very loud objections. Perhaps in hope that they could salvage a point, the Rapids were soon pushing four and five men up high, leaving space for United to make inroads into the opposing end. Emilio was quick to pounce: a breakdown in defending in the 63rd led to the ball landing on his boot at the doorstep - only to be denied by the sprawling arms of Burpo.

United continued to attempt to find the death blow. In the 76th, Emilio found space after a nice turn and blasted into Burpo - who had difficulty with the handle and almost gifted Quaranta a sitter. With Crayton urging them on, the winner finally came for United. Found again with plenty of space, Emilio superbly crossed the ball wide to Quaranta and he blasted a brilliant hit into the far corner of the net over the outstretched hands of Burpo. Soon after, United added a third - off-season acquisition Quavas Kirk picked up the scraps that Burpo left behind and slotted away his first goal of his young MLS career, seconds after entering the game in the 87th minute.

With the win, D.C. evened it's record at 10-10-1, and on 31 points stayed level with the sizzling hot New York Red Bulls, whom they welcome to RFK for another big match next Saturday.