Perkins denied Eskandarian on a second-half penalty kick to preserve a 2-1 win for D.C. United over RSL before 14,655 at RFK Stadium Wednesday night.

With its second straight loss on the road, RSL falls to 4-13-6, while United moves to an MLS-best 15-6-4.

"We have to look at our group and feel very, very good about what they put into that game," said RSL coach Jason Kreis.

Eskandarian got his chance after United defender Devon McTavish fouled RSL's Carey Talley in the penalty area.

However, Perkins only had to move a couple of steps to his left to parry Eskandarian's well-struck penalty attempt.

"He pretty much knew where I was going, but I should have switched it up on him, and I didn't," Eskandarian said.

Eskandarian started the match strong, forcing Perkins into two diving saves on long-range shots within the first 15 minutes of the game.

United, though, scored first in the 16th minute on Luciano Emilio's MLS-leading 19th goal of the season on an undefended header.

Kyle Beckerman scored his first goal in an RSL uniform in the 32nd minute, tying the game on a 25-yard blast after dribbling toward goal unimpeded before firing past Perkins to the left corner.

"I think it caught Perkins off guard," Beckerman said.

RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando preserved the tie late in the first half, reaching high to bat away a Christian Gomez free kick.

In the 50th minute, Rimando saved another shot from Gomez, this time on a penalty kick, coming after RSL defender Jean-Martial Kipre fouled United's Josh Gros just inside the top left corner of the penalty area.

Rimando read Gomez's attempt well and dove left to smother the attempt.

Gomez, though, made up for his miss with a 73rd minute goal. Like Emilio in the first half, Gomez was left unmarked to put a header past Rimando.

"We were not composed back there, and not urgent, and weren't marked up, and they got two similar goals that got them the win today," Rimando said.

RSL had its last good chance two minutes later, but Eskandarian missed, meaning he can no longer joke to his former roommate Perkins about not saving penalty kicks.

"I know how badly he wanted to score, but sometimes that can haunt you a little bit," Kreis said.

RSL goes into Saturday's game at Toronto FC looking to salvage something from what had been a critical road trip for any playoff hopes.

But against United, as it was against Houston, RSL was doomed by defensive mistakes.

"We give good teams good games, and for some reason, we give them away, and that's why we're on the bottom, and they're on top."

Note: RSL defender Eddie Pope did not play against his former team, but he was honored for his seven years with United prior to the match.

* Troy Perkins stuffs RSL's Alecko Eskandarian on a second-half penalty kick to preserve D.C. United's

victory.

* With its second straight loss on the road, RSL falls to 4-13-6.