He’d never admit it, but you know that somewhere, sometime before the start of the season, D.C. United coach Tom Soehn looked at his team’s busy schedule for the first month of the season, and then said a small bit of thanks for who they were playing. Of their first five MLS games, they were scheduled to play exactly one playoff team from last season. They had home games against perennially struggling Columbus, anemic Toronto, and generally woeful Real Salt Lake. Exactly the kind of schedule you want to open up the season. But after a 4-0 thrashing on the road in Salt Lake City, and a lackluster 2-1 home defeat to the Crew, the reigning Supporters Shield holders went into Saturday night’s home rematch with Real in last place and badly needing a win.

Real, for that matter, were struggling too, their only win being the shellacking of United two weeks before. And for the first 25 minutes or so, they frustrated the hell out of United’s superstar front three of Emilio, Moreno, and Gallardo, while managing to lump a few long balls into the back post for their big Scottish forward Kenny Deuchar to try and direct towards goal. It may not have been particularly interesting, but given United’s known defensive frailties, it wasn’t the worst strategy.

Ultimately, though, the better team began to impose itself. United were possessing deeper and deeper in RSL’s half, swinging the ball back and forth with ease. It finally came to Quaranta, whose outswinging delivery ran past everyone but fell to Burch. He tried to play back into the area but former D.C. midfield terrier Dema Kovalenko blocked with his hand, and it was penalty to United. Moreno’s kick was about as cheeky as they come — just as RSL keeper Nick Rimando dove to his right, Moreno delicately chipped the ball right down the middle. If Rimando had closed his eyes and stood still, it would’ve hit him in the stomach.