Will the additions of Dwayne De Rosario and Brandon McDonald be enough to break D.C. United’s lengthy playoff drought? That certainly looked the case on Saturday night — that is, until the 84th minute.

The work of Ben Olsen’s two newest additions, along with a golazo from Honduran wunderkind Andy Najar, had led United to a well-deserved 2-1 lead over conference leader Philadelphia in front of 13,365 at RFK Stadium. But Carlos Ruiz’s 84th minute equalizer deflated the sails yet again.

“It’s obviously disappointing to tie again,” said Olsen after the game, despite noting his pleasure with the team’s performance.

Closing games out seems to be United’s biggest issue this year. With the draw, the club has only earned 7 points of a possible 18 in their six home games since the beginning of May.

Of course, ask anyone who watched the team last year, and the fact that they are even in the position to close anyone out is certainly progress. And the team is improving, game by game, even if the results aren’t going their way. Najar’s goal — in which last year’s Rookie of the Year was given the time and space to lash a 35-yard rocket shot past Union keeper Faryd Mondragon — and the obvious chemistry already present between De Rosario and the rest of the team are promising signs of things to come.

However, if they hope to make the playoffs after what, for one of the league’s flagship clubs, has felt an interminable absence, cutting out the defensive lapses which led to both of Philadelphia’s equalizers will be of paramount importance. Given Olsen’s current hand, United will have no one to blame but themselves if they miss out on the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

“It’s not the end of the world,” Olsen concluded. “We got a chance…we just need to learn how to close teams out at home.”