Last week, a wild 3-2 win over the Colorado Rapids was supposed to have cured the temporary woes for D.C. United. In a four-day stretch, the Black-and-Red had lost 4-0 at home to Los Angeles FC before getting just a point at Audi Field in a scoreless draw against the Montreal Impact. The trip to the Rockies was a tough one, with United dealing with injury issues, and short rest while playing in the altitude, but a win seemed to make everything right again.

That wasn't the case though on Sunday afternoon when United returned home to the friendly confines at Buzzard Point but came up short in a 2-0 loss to New York City FC. United struggled to click offensively for most of the game, going a third consecutive game at home without a goal. The loss gives United two homes losses already this year — matching their total from the 2018 campaign. 

"It’s disappointing, I don’t think we deserved anything out of the game," United's captain Wayne Rooney told reporters after the game. "We didn’t create enough chances. We need to get back to being hard to beat, being resilient."

Opposite of them on Sunday was a City side that was still searching for their first win of the season. Through six games, the Bronx side had just managed five draws and one loss, the last team in the Eastern Conference without a win. 

But over the course of the 90 minutes on Sunday, the visitors were much the better side. Alexandru Mitrita gave NYCFC the lead in the first half, and Maxi Moralez missed a penalty just before the break that would have been a just halftime scoreline.

Heber, the Brazilian striker making his first start since his March move, added the second goal in the second half, easing some of the pressure on head coach Dome Torrent. 

"They were just sharper in all of the facets of the game," Ben Olsen said after the game, collecting his thoughts on United's performance. "In possession, out of possession, transition, the pulse, the bite, their desperation, the urgency — they were just better tonight."

In last year's inaugural season at Audi Field, United won 12 of the 15 games at the brand-new stadium. They never went more than one game in a row without a win, which has now been bested by the current three-game winless streak during the month of April.

"I’m concerned that we haven’t been able to in the last couple of home games get a win," said Olsen.

At the same time, United's fortunes on the road have changed, with United picking up seven points from their first three road trips this season. That record will be put to the test this week when the Black-and-Red travel for games against the Columbus Crew and Minnesota United.

Both will present difficult challenges for United, who are still tops in the Eastern Conference. But there's no longer the dread of playing away from home for D.C.

"It’s nice to not have that same mentality from last year, like oh man here we go again on the road," Paul Arriola said in the locker room after the game. "That’s not the mentality we have. We’re confident in playing away."