D.C. United Vs. Real Salt Lake Player Grades: Chris Pontius Stars Against Real Salt Lake

Before we go any further, if you want to know my thoughts on the 83rd-minute penalty won by Charlie Davies to secure United's draw, go here. I now officially consider the matter closed. What's done is done and cannot be undone. United secured a point against a good team on the road. It doesn't quite make up for the disappointment of the San Jose loss last weekend, but it's a start. On to the ratings.

D.C. United Starters

Bill Hamid--4/5: Made a great save to deny Collen Warner in the 52nd minute to keep United in the match. Was very sure of himself in a great bounce-back performance after last weekend.

Jed Zayner--3/5: An encouraging sign for United's defensive depth that Zayner was able to go the full 90 minutes in his return to the lineup after a hamstring injury.

Perry Kitchen--3/5: Like Hamid, another good bounce-back performance for a young part of United's defense.

Daniel Woolard--3/5: See above. Was particularly good on cutting out balls from the wing with his head and limiting Real Salt Lake's options.

Ethan White--3/5: Had one or two anxious moments where he dawdled on the ball a bit too long, but overall looked more like his early-season self.

Andy Najar--3/5: Had his moments on the right wing, as was bound to happen, but also gave the ball away a bit too easily.

Clyde Simms--2/5: The penalty wasn't his fault, but he had a hard time facilitating possession through Real Salt Lake's midfield and was generally outplayed by Kyle Beckerman.

Stephen King--2/5: Anonymous. Poor.

Chris Pontius--4/5: My man of the match by a good distance. Had a goal disallowed in the first half, hit the crossbar twice in the second half and showed great movement off the ball. Combined particularly well with Brettschneider up front.

Blake Brettschneider--3/5: Wasn't nearly as effective as last weekend, but it wasn't for lack of effort. Very industrious performance up front.

Josh Wolff--3/5: Also not as effective as last weekend, though also not for lack of effort. Was caught offside on Pontius' disallowed first-half goal and his only shot on goal was a tame effort right into the hands of Nick Rimando.

Substitutes

Dax McCarty (on for Simms, 45th minute)--3/5: D.C. United's midfield play improved after he came on, but McCarty never really left his mark on the match.

Charlie Davies (on for Wolff, 62nd minute)--3/5: He won the penalty and scored the penalty, but that was Davies' only major contribution to the match's final half-hour (albeit a pretty big one).

Fred (on for King, 78th minute)--3/5: Helped spring Davies on the breakout that led to the penalty and provided United with a finishing kick that was sorely lacking against San Jose.