Real Salt Lake headed into Washington last weekend looking to complete a series sweep of reigning MLS Supporter’s Shield winner D.C. United, after a 4-0 pouncing of D.C. two weeks ago at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Unfortunately for RSL, D.C. was ready to put an end to that dream, as the team from the nation’s capital got a 4-1 revenge over the squad from the Wasatch Front.

“It’s tough—we knew it was going to be tough,” RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando said. “It’s a different game, on different grass. They were hungry for a win. It was in the back of their head what we did to them at our house. We knew they were going to come out strong, and try and put it on us.”

D.C. had a little help from the officials, scoring their first two goals off penalty kicks from forward Jaime Moreno. The firsts came shortly after halftime, as Moreno booted the ball just out of Rimando’s reach in the 52nd minute.

“It’s just one of those things; I’m good at it,” Moreno said. “I’m lucky enough to score that many penalties, and I just have to keep working on it.”

Just 15 minutes later, a controversial call by referee Baldomero Toledo led to another goal by Moreno, and D.C.’s, second point of the match.

“He makes a living off PKs,” Rimando said. “I think he’s made 203 career goals off PK’s….I’d say 100 percent [at home]. I just want to guess the right way and at least get a touch. But what are you going to do?”

RSL’s lone goal came in the 77th minute as MF Carey Talley scored off assists by Tony Beltran and Javier Morales. RSL managed to aggressively control the ball the majority of the first half, but it wasn’t enough to translate into a goal.

“The first 15 minutes I think we had a couple of decent opportunities,” Talley said. “The ball was crossed in and no one was on the end of it. We didn’t take advantage of those.”

D.C. United will use the new style of play exhibited Saturday to try and improve from their rocky 1-3-0 start going into the game.

“It’s nice to know we could get back to our style of play,” defender Marc Burch said. “We didn’t look like it the last few games, and I think tonight we started knocking the ball around and we’re dangerous in the attack, and it was nice to put a few away and create some penalties, and that’s a good offense trying to get things done up top.”

This week, Real Salt Lake will face double-trouble at home, hosting the MLS 2008 revival team San Jose Earthquakes Wednesday in a U.S. Open Cup play-in match at Rice-Eccles Stadium. David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy then come to Salt Lake City. The Galaxy also boast the league's leading scorer, forward Landon Donovan.