Real Salt Lake notebook: Will Johnson bewildered by D.C.'s tactics

WASHINGTON — After his team's scoreless draw with D.C. United, Will Johnson said he wasn't disappointed about the result or overly excited either. Mostly he was just confused about what D.C. United were trying to accomplish.

D.C. United came into the match with a league-worst 2-8-0 record, a good 10 points out of a playoff position with two-thirds of the season remaining.

Johnson couldn't believe D.C. didn't play with more urgency.

"I'm surprised more than anything. We were sitting back, being patient, wanted to try and hit them on the counter. We figured them being at home, and having such a poor record, they're desperate for points. But they stayed back in their shape the whole game. So at the end of the game, we're like, 'Fine, we'll just take a point,' " said Johnson.

"I was confused. I don't know if they're planning on winning all their road games or what, but for me their tactics that they just sat there for 90 minutes is a little bit strange."

As much as anything, D.C. United probably didn't want to blow another game. In being outscored 20-7 this season, it has surrendered half of those goals in the final 30 minutes of matches.

RSL coach Jason Kreis said he thought D.C. United came out with a fantastic mentality, but Johnson clearly doesn't agree.

LINEUP COMPARISON: When it came to having fresh legs on Saturday, D.C. United definitely had the advantage over Real Salt Lake. While RSL used six of the same starters it did in Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup qualifier, including five who played all 120 minutes, D.C. United only started three of the same players.

One of those was keeper Troy Perkins, as Jordan Graye and Stephen King were the only two field players to start both matches.

For Salt Lake, Robbie Russell, Nat Borchers, Tony Beltran, Will Johnson, Jean Alexandre and Collen Warner started both matches, with the first four playing all 210 minutes this week against D.C. United.

WHY SO TIRED?: In the post-game press conference, Kreis was asked by a Washington reporter about why the heat was taxing on his team.

"We come from a very dry place, and it has been a very cool spring. This is the first time we've been in humidity and the first time we've been in any heat this season," Kreis said. "It's a transition. It takes time."