Troy Lesesne labelled D.C. United's 7-1 thrashing to Chicago Fire as "unacceptable" but is confident they will bounce back against Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

D.C. failed to mount a challenge on home soil against the Fire, meaning they have now won just one of their last seven games in MLS. It is their second heavy defeat of the season, having also lost 6-1 to the San Jose Earthquakes in early April.

They sit 12th in the Eastern Conference on 18 points, seven points behind Charlotte FC in ninth.

However, Lesesne remains optimistic about their chances of getting a positive result at Salt Lake to silence any questions.

"It's not easy, there's no doubt about that. On Monday, we looked it [the loss] straight in the eyes," he said.

"We know this result; it's the second time it's happened this year. It's unacceptable, but at the same time, we're a group that's going to stay together. We're going to respond.

"I know when you lose like that, you question the fight, that's fair. But we're ready to respond like we did after San Jose, so I think we're more than capable of doing that. It'll be tough, but that's our focus.

Real Salt Lake have had their own struggles this season, as they sit 13th in the West on 15 points, eight behind Colorado Rapids in the last playoff spot.

They are winless in seven (D3 L4), with their 2-0 defeat against LA Galaxy last weekend marking Greg Vanney's side's first win of the season.

Despite not winning since April, head coach Pablo Mastroeni remains upbeat and insists the run has not affected morale among his players.

"What keeps me positive is that we're right there," he told KSL Sports Zone.

"It's really the last piece that we've got to put together, and oftentimes, when you're in a bad run of form from a results perspective, it creeps into the group, but I've been so blessed to work with guys who believe we can turn this around.

"In trying times, the experienced players have been steadfast, so that keeps me optimistic. At the end of the day, there's only one way, and that's forward."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Salt Lake – Zavier Gozo

Real Salt Lake failed to beat, at the time, winless LA Galaxy last time out, but it was not for lack of trying as they had 19 attempts on goal.

Zavier Gozo was responsible for three of those, a joint-team-high, and also had the most shots on target (two) and created the most expected goals (xG) of 0.7, but he could not find the target.

D.C. United – Luis Barraza

Last Saturday's 7-1 loss to Chicago was the ninth time since the start of the 2021 season, and second this year, that D.C. United have allowed five or more goals in a regular-season match, three more than any other team in the league in that time.

Luis Barraza will be keen to put that result behind him as quickly as possible and earn a first clean sheet since May 18.

MATCH PREDICTION: REAL SALT LAKE WIN

D.C. United won their first away match against Real Salt Lake 3-1 in RSL's expansion 2005 season. Since then, RSL are unbeaten in 11 straight at home against D.C. (W8 D3).

Both teams are struggling for form at the moment, though. Real Salt Lake's 15 points through 17 matches this season is their worst mark at the midway point of a full season since MLS expanded to a 34-match schedule in 2011.

And, they have lost four of their last six home matches (W1 D1), including a 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps in their last match at America First Field. RSL had lost only two of their previous 16 home league games dating back to late March 2024 (W11 D3).

D.C., meanwhile, conceded seven goals in a match for the second time in club history on Saturday in a 7-1 defeat to Chicago. United also allowed seven goals in a loss to the Philadelphia Union in July 2022.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Real Salt Lake – 52.5%

Draw – 24.3%

D.C. United – 23.3%