With only ten minutes remaining in DC United’s match against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night, previously beleaguered comeback-player-of-the-year candidate Santino Quaranta worked his way through midfield and slid a wonderful angled pass behind the New York defense to MLS all-time leading goalscorer Jaime Moreno. Moreno’s first touch was immaculate and his second eluded the NY defender, forcing him into a rash challenge that brought down the United legend and won a penalty.

It was a moment tailor-made for the DC star. But the man usually so cool – and even a little bit cheeky – from the penalty spot froze the keeper but fired his shot wide left. It was United's best chance to take all three critical points on Saturday, and ensured a frustrating result for the home team. DC wasn't the only team frustrated though: with just a couple minutes left, a gilt-edged chance fell to the Red Bulls when Colombian star forward Juan Pablo Angel wriggled by Devon MacTavish and completely fooled keeper Louis Crayton but somehow contrived to shoot wide of the empty net, ensuring the game ended 0-0.

In truth, the goalless draw was what both teams deserved. United’s early dominance conjured a few quality chances – the best a swinging cross from the excellent Joe Vide to a diving Luciano Emilio – but they lacked the finishing touch to put them away. As the half wore on, the Red Bulls began to find more and more space behind DC’s four man midfield. They nearly capitalized when Chris van der Bergh’s deep back post cross was knocked back by Seth Stammler to Angel whose side-foot was saved well by Crayton.

And it was Crayton who provided the majority of the game’s entertainment. He’s a good keeper – a significant upgrade from the steadily mediocre Zack Wells – but he’s prone to bold forays out of the penalty box. On several occasions the Liberian dallied with the ball but used some good footwork to evade oncoming New York attackers. Risky for a goalkeeper perhaps, but his quickness off his line and certainly his decisiveness have played a major role in DC’s defensive resurgence in the past month.

It was DC’s third shutout in its last four games, three times as many as in the first 20 MLS games of the season. You don't typically expect stinginess from United, but this is shaping into a different team than the one that started the season. Without Fred and Gallardo (and possibly Emilio), this is a team that’s had to ally its intricate passing style with an increasing reliance on graft. On Saturday Clyde Simms was his usual steady self, shielding the back line and passing simply but efficiently, but he seems to have found an unlikely midfield partner in Joe Vide. After a goalscoring debut last week against the Rapids, he was all over the field on Saturday, flying around the middle third of the field with the kind of abandon DC has lacked for some time.

It remains to be seen what Coach Tom Soehn will do with Vide once his usual starters return, but my money says he finds a way to keep this kid in the game. He should have more than enough opportunities in the coming weeks. The CONCACAF Champions League starts on the 16th versus Costa Rica’s Deportiva Saprissa, but the big one’s on Wednesday, when DC take on the Charleston Battery in the U.S. Open
Cup Final. It’s not everyday our hometown team hosts a cup final – don’t miss out.