Today in DC United History: June 18

June 18, 11:29 PMWashington Soccer ExaminerEd Morgans

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DC United has played just one league game on June 18 in its history, but it had a memorable result. 

On June 18, 2005, United welcomed the New England Revolution to RFK Stadium. United were the defending MLS Cup champions, but had been overshadowed by the Revs to start the season. New England entered the match at a gaudy 7-0-4, with 25 points through just 11 games. By comparison, we are just about halfway through the current Major League Soccer season and only two teams (Houston and Chivas USA) have gained at least that many points in the standings - both have 27.

The Revs brought that 11-match unbeaten streak to start the season into RFK and were welcomed by 17,611 who were cheering for an upset by a United team that was 4-4-4 up to that point in the campaign.

They didn't leave disappointed. Santino Quaranta and Jaime Moreno scored in a 2-minute span early in the first half, and that was all United would need en route to a 2-0 victory. The goals were Quaranta's second of the season and Moreno's sixth. United goalkeeper Nick Rimando did the work from there, making 10 saves to outduel counterpart Matt Reis.

Despite the loss, New England proved to be the best team in the East that year, both in the regular season and the playoffs. They won the East with 59 points, going 17-7-8. Taylor Twellman led the league with 17 goals, while Reis posted a goals against average of 1.13 with 10 shutouts. 

New England finished five points clear of second-place United, which finished as the highest scoring team in the league and with a record of 16-10-6 (54 points). None of that mattered come playoff time, however, as United's bid for repeat titles at the hands of the Chicago Fire in the first round of the playoffs. The Revs dispatched the MetroStars in round one, then beat the Fire in the Eastern final. 

But the story in MLS Cup would turn out to be a familiar one for New England - a loss - when Guillermo Ramirez scored in extra time to give the Los Angeles Galaxy the victory. It marked the second time that the Galaxy beat the Revs in extra time in the final (Carlos Ruiz - 2002). New England lost to Houston on penalties in 2006, and were beaten soundly by Houston in RFK in the 2007 final. 

Ramirez had a goal and assist for LA during the regular season in 24 appearances, then earned the title-winner in his only postseason appearance. 

The year wasn't a total loss for United, however, as the club were champions of the now-defunct Reserve Division, which debuted in 2005. 

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