Given the adverse circumstances, D.C. United would have been thrilled with a draw or one-goal setback against Mexico’s Queretaro on Tuesday in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.
United got through 70 minutes, but after several quality chances passed by and the effects of both its first competitive match in 3 1/2 months and the 6,000-foot altitude took hold, D.C. conceded two goals and suffered a 2-0 defeat at Estadio Corregidora in central Mexico.
If substitute Yerson Candelo’s sensational strike in the 71st minute had been the only goal, United would have been fine with it.