It’d be easy to write off D.C. United’s scoreless home draw with FC Dallas on Saturday night as a disappointment. After all, the team certainly could have used the three points, especially when it seemed the only thing standing in their way was one clinical finish in front of Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. But the defensive effort provided by the team — especially on the heels of an April in which they allowed four goals three times and three goals once — was impressive enough for head coach Ben Olsen and most of the 11,504 on hand at RFK Stadium.

“The positive is that we had a fairly good performance after a good performance on Wednesday,” Olsen told the Post’s Steve Goff. “We are striving to play consistent soccer, and if we do that over the course of a year, it’s usually enough to make the playoffs.”

Dallas was playing their first league game since their star, reigning league MVP David Ferreira, underwent surgery on a broken ankle. The lack of chemistry showed, as the Toros’ midfield struggled to unlock a reconfigured United defense. Dallas was left to settle for long attempts at Bill Hamid’s goal and rarely seemed a threat to score, a refreshing sign for D.C., which was in desperate need of a stout defensive performance. And though decent chances from Charlie Davies (his third straight game going the full 90 minutes, another promising sign that he is back to full fitness), Josh Wolff and Stephen King went lacking, the discipline on display in United’s second game in four days was a very good sign.

D.C., currently sitting mid-table on 11 points, is back in action next Saturday against Colorado at RFK.