Controversy lies with United, Real

D.C. United ended a five-game winless streak on Sunday with a 2-1 win at Chivas USA, but the victory came at a price.

Because of a number of cautions and one ejection handed out in the ill-tempered match, four of United’s key players are suspended for tonight’s game against Real Salt Lake at RFK Stadium.

United’s best asset and current MLS Player of the Week, midfielder Christian Gomez, will have to watch the game from the stands, along with defender Bobby Boswell, forward Alecko Eskandarian and defender Josh Gros. And with the team’s key striker, Jaime Moreno, struggling with a knee injury and questionable for the game, United’s talent will be spread thin.

“It’s a chance for guys off the bench to step in and continue where the starters left off,” Eskandarian said. “We pride ourselves on being a pretty deep team.”

Still, the suspensions come at a tough time for the team. United is in a tight race to win the Supporter’s Shield, given to the team with the most points in the regular season. Now that team also earns an automatic place in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

United coach Peter Nowak likely will call on reserve forwards Jamil Walker and Matt Nickell, midfielder Clyde Simms and defender Brandon Prideaux to fill in United’s gaps tonight. New player Matias Donnet could also make his first MLS start.

With seven games left on the season and a possible 21 points to be won, United (14-3-8, 50 points) has a five-point lead over FC Dallas (14-8-3, 45 points) in the race for the Shield.

Adding to tonight’s game is the bad blood that has developed between Real Salt Lake and United.

It was Salt Lake that ended United’s 14-game unbeaten streak with a controversial 2-1 win in Utah on July 29. With United leading 1-0 in the 89th minute, Salt Lake was awarded two penalty kicks, one in the 90th minute and one in 96th minute in extra time.

“If you’re going to beat us, beat us in a fair way,” Nowak said after that game.

Salt Lake coach John Ellinger was cited by the league for comments he made to the sideline official after United scored the opening goal.

It was reported that Ellinger told the official, “I don’t know what [United president] Kevin Payne has on you guys. … It must be dirty pictures.”

The nastiness between these teams goes back to the beginning of the season.

After a preseason game in March, Ellinger, formally of Ellicott City, Md., accused Nowak of making a racist comment to one of the Salt Lake players in the exhibition match. Nowak, who strongly denied the accusations, was fined for making an inappropiate remark but not a racist one.

The controversy has become a trend for Real Salt Lake this year.

After Real’s 1-0 lost to the Colorado Rapids last Saturday, Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts had a confrontation with Rapids captain Pablo Mastroeni, who taunted the Salt Lake fans after the win. Mastroeni waved his shirt over his head in celebration and then shoved it into his shorts and pointed at it.

Checketts complained to the league that the World Cup midfielder had used an obscene gesture but the league cleared Mastroeni. On Tuesday, it was reported Salt Lake striker Jeff Cunningham, the league’s leading scorer (15 goals and 9 assists), stormed out of practice while using a series of expletives.

In April, Real midfielder Andy Williams accused New York Red Bulls midfielder Amado Guevara of using a racist taunt during a game. The league found no proof to support the allegations. Williams, then with the Columbus Crew, made a similar complaint against Tab Ramos of the MetroStars in 1998, which also resulted in no discipline.

As for those suspended United players, Eskandarian sees his punishment as a blessing in disguise.

“My injuries are definitely taking a toll on me,” Eskandarian said. “I’m probably playing at 80 percent now, so it’s definitely good timing for me to heal up for the last stretch.”

The team will be collecting school supplies outside Gate A tonight for United’s charitable foundation.