For an excruciating stretch, RFK Stadium’s eruptions offered false hope: near misses, high drama but no equalizer. Deep into five minutes of stoppage time, the unmistakable sound of a desperately required goal — furnished by Steve Birnbaum’s head — preceded the video.

“I was proud of them — they didn’t give up,” Olsen said after Tuesday’s training session. “Now we need to keep up that urgency.”

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With the season rounding the two-thirds mark, the urgency to win — and not settle for ties — is growing. United (5-8-9) is only two points out of the Eastern Conference’s last playoff berth but continues to underachieve at home: the 4-4-3 mark is the worst among 20 MLS teams. And after a pair of draws to start a four-game homestand, the pressure for three points will increase ahead of visits by reigning MLS Cup champion Portland this Saturday and the New York Red Bulls on Aug. 21.

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A fine and one-game suspension accompany Olsen’s ejection, relegating him to the RFK mezzanine level this weekend. The league might tack on an additional penalty for him kicking a signboard and not leaving the field in a timely manner. Top assistant Chad Ashton will run the team from the sideline.

Olsen was suspended early this season for stepping onto the field to retrieve a stray ball — a harmless violation that the league felt obligated to enforce. The latest dismissal was deserved.

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What got him tossed?

“Generally being annoying throughout the game,” Olsen said. “That’s probably the official term he put down [on the match report]. That’s what I would put if I was a referee and had to listen to me screaming the whole time.”

Olsen did not blame Marrufo for the outcome.

“He had a bad night, but it’s still in our hands,” he said. “The game is still on us. He made it very difficult on us, but it’s still a game where we feel like we dropped two points. A lot of courage to come back and get something out of the game, which is still important in the course of a season because you go through these stretches.”

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This stretch has sunk to 1-3-5, with only five of a possible 12 points recorded at RFK. Following two more home matches, United will play four of five on the road, where the club is 1-4-6 with seven goals scored.

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“There were a lot of good performances out there again,” Olsen said of the draw with Philadelphia. “It’s just unfortunate we’re not rewarding ourselves three points.”

The inability to build upon an early lead contributed to the downfall as the Union drew level before halftime and went ahead early in the second half.

“That stuff will come,” Olsen said. “If it doesn’t, we’ll probably be in the same boat. If it does, I think this team has a very high ceiling.”

He attributed some of the attacking issues to the arrival of three players in the past five weeks: Lloyd Sam, Patrick Mullins and Kennedy Igboananike. Continuity, chemistry and rhythm come with time.

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“It’s a shame I am talking about that past halfway through the year,” Olsen said, “but that’s just the reality.”

United recorded multiple goals for just the fifth time in the regular season, though both were scored by defenders: Taylor Kemp and Birnbaum. Starting attackers have scored in two of the past 11 league matches. Mullins scored in his first D.C. start July 31 but, against Philadelphia, he missed a golden chance to extend the first-half lead.

“It’s not concerning,” Olsen said of production coming from defenders instead of attackers. “What would be concerning is if I watch the game with zero shots and didn’t have [opportunities] where we are a pass away from having more goals. That part continues to be pretty good, and now it’s just a matter of continuing to fine-tune some of that.”

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Despite the scoring issues and overall record, Olsen remains upbeat about making a playoff run.

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“I told the guys, there is so much good to this team that the upside and quality that this team can produce is better than maybe any team I’ve coached here.”

United notes: Birnbaum missed training after taking a knock in the Philadelphia match. Olsen said he expects him to be ready for Portland. … Timbers midfielder Diego Chara will miss Saturday’s game with a red card suspension. …

United midfielder Jared Jeffrey, sidelined with a hamstring injury, ran sprints on the side Tuesday and might be available this weekend. “The hamstring is always tricky, so we will have to take it day by day,” Olsen said. “Don’t you love when coaches say that? As much as you guys hate ‘day by day,’ I don’t like saying it. But it spells it all out.” …

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Reserve goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra resumed workouts after his wife gave birth to twins last week. The team will strike a balance between family time and playing time with the third-division Richmond Kickers, Olsen said. …