It was a weekend of fortune for the nation’s soccer fans as the United States defeated arch-rival Mexico to earn CONCACAF’s first entry into the 2006 World Cup. For fans in the DC area, however, the celebrations were muted as their own United reverted to their early season offensive impotence, falling to the Colorado Rapids 1-0. The deciding score came in the 22nd minute when an attacking Jean Phillipe Peguero drew Nick Rimando out of the goal. Peguero neatly centered the ball to Terry Cooke, who deposited the ball through the DC defense and into the empty net.

DC has been a little snakebitten of late in Colorado–the loss marks the sixth straight occasion in which they’ve failed to notch a win–and, excluding some brief flashes in the opening of the second period, played flat. Adding insult to injury, Jaime Moreno was sent off in the second half. He’ll have to sit out DC’s upcoming road match with FC Dallas.

With six games remaining, DC sits in fourth place in the conference, but are a single point behind Chicago and Kansas City, who are tied for second place.