After a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, D.C. United took comfort in knowing it will not play another MLS regular season match until late this month.
United needs a break. Badly.
In reaching the midway point of the schedule -- 17 matches packed into three months -- United required another home comeback. It lost Russell Canouse and Steve Birnbaum to injuries, the latter on a bloody head-to-head collision.
The winless streak reached five, but the draw was enough to retain first place in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of Atlanta, two in front of Philadelphia and three on Montreal and New York.