United Finishes Well in Opener

Eskandarian, Erpen Have Goals Before 23,028: D.C. United 2, Red Bulls 2

D.C. United started the season yesterday the same way the previous campaign ended -- with confusion in the penalty area, a disjointed attack and, worst of all, a multiple-goal deficit at RFK Stadium.

"It was pretty discouraging," Coach Peter Nowak said. "We play too slow, too predictable."

But in a heartening second half incited by an almost forgotten striker, United responded with two goals in a 10-minute span to earn a 2-2 tie with the New York Red Bulls before a crowd of 23,028 that included Mayor Anthony A. Williams and 16 busloads of visiting fans.

It wasn't the grand unveiling that United had hoped for following the embarrassing finish to last season, a 4-0 playoff loss to Chicago that ranked among the worst in club history. But considering D.C. was missing three starters (a suspended Christian Gomez, an injured Nick Rimando and an ill Bobby Boswell) and proceeded to fall behind 2-0 after 18 minutes, United was content with a draw.

"It's good to see the boys react and respond that way," Nowak said. "There's a lot of work to do, but it's a good starting point."

The turning point came at halftime, when Nowak decided to insert Alecko Eskandarian, the team's leading scorer two years ago who missed the final four months last season after suffering a concussion. His comeback was then interrupted this spring by a hernia condition that required surgery.

Wearing a black, padded headband contraption to help prevent further injury, Eskandarian needed just 11 minutes to rediscover his scoring touch. Josh Gros served a pinpoint cross, Eskandarian ducked behind defender Marvell Wynne, leaped and smashed a seven-yard volley that rocketed over goalkeeper Tony Meola.

"It's been a long time coming," said Eskandarian, who scored his first goal in league play since a two-goal performance at the 2004 MLS Cup that earned him most valuable player honors. "Ten months of frustration were put behind that shot."

Said teammate Ben Olsen: "He's dealt with a lot in the last year and a half. To see him smile again after scoring a goal, it's a special moment."

With Eskandarian and Freddy Adu pressuring the beleaguered Red Bulls, United maintained the initiative and leveled the score nine minutes later. Adu swung a gorgeous cross-field pass to Olsen, who touched it back to defender Facundo Erpen for a 25-yard bid that nicked New York's Jeff Parke and slithered into the lower left corner.

Despite United's superior play, the Red Bulls should have retaken the lead in the 79th minute, but Parke botched Youri Djorkaeff's free kick and missed a glaringly open net.

"In the first half, it's never happened in my life," Erpen said. "We know we have a good team with good players, but in the five minutes, we were losing 2-0. The second half it was different -- the attitude, everything."

At the start, United didn't seem to learn its lessons from last year's playoffs, allowing Djorkaeff's spectacular free kick and Edson Buddle's easy conversion of a ghastly United mistake.

In the 15th minute, the 38-year-old Djorkaeff lifted a 32-yard effort over the defensive wall and just beyond goalkeeper Troy Perkins's reach. Asked how he accomplished it, the former French national team star smiled and said, "Because I'm Youri Djorkaeff."

Three minutes later, Perkins and his defenders made a mess of Seth Stammler's cross. Perkins came out as Brandon Prideaux came in. The ball deflected off the goalie and then caromed off D.C. defender John Wilson before falling at Buddle's feet.

United's attack wasn't faring better, failing to string together passes out of the back and missing its only two clear chances of the half. It didn't take long, however, for Eskandarian and a recharged lineup to turn things around.

"We were discouraged, but this team has a good attitude," Olsen said. "At halftime we decided to get our [act] together and go out there and put together a good half. We started moving the ball better, we started playing through each other, we looked better. Esky really did a good job putting them on their heels and moving the ball quick and going after them."

United Note: Boswell, scheduled to return to the starting lineup after being benched late last season, was scratched because of pharyngitis, an infection that required a hospital visit Saturday night and often causes a sore throat. In his absence, Prideaux joined Erpen in the middle and Wilson started on the left.