If we were to make the obvious comparison between D.C. United’s season and Groundhog Day after five regular-season games, we’d be right about at the point in the film where Phil Connors is prepared to check out — permanently — rather than handle one more repetitive day in a place he can’t stand. But just like Bill Murray’s legendary weatherman, United won’t find their way out of the limbo they’re stuck in until they can piece together one honest day — or at least an honest ninety minutes.

When or if that epiphany will arrive with United’s hodgepodge roster is anyone’s guess.

United dropped their fifth straight league game to begin the season against the New York Red Bulls — who hadn’t won at RFK Stadium since 2005 and earned only their second road win in 29 contests — on Saturday, 2-0. It was the third straight league home game in which United has allowed two second half goals in rapid succession, leaving themselves buried. And people are noticing: on the surface, yesterday’s attendance of 12,089 might not seem poor by MLS standards, but for a rivalry game on a beautiful Saturday afternoon with nary another sporting event in town, it’s not a good sign.

The pressure is obviously building for head coach Curt Onalfo, who has the unenviable task of justifying the third-worst start in league history to ticket holders that are growing increasingly agitated.

“There’s not a whole lot of positives to take,” a frustrated Onalfo said after the game. “We’re 0-5. We just lost in front of our home crowd, again, 2-0, and it’s unacceptable.”

The players are similarly grasping at straws.

“I think right now, we’re so focused on just winning that we’re not accepting the fact that maybe a draw, at times, is good enough,” said goalkeeper Troy Perkins. “We’re a young team, we’re a team that’s looking for something to build on, and I don’t think a draw is necessarily a bad thing at this point,” he added.