D.C. United got off to a promising start yesterday in its first game against a Spanish opponent. But after taking an early lead against Getafe, United yielded three consecutive goals and lost the exhibition, 3-1, to the mid-level La Liga club at Coliseum Alfonso Perez in Madrid.

Lucio Filomeno scored in the 10th minute for United, which is preparing for its MLS season opener against the MetroStars on April 2 at RFK Stadium.

Jaime Moreno, left, goes for the ball against Getafe's Fabio Celestini in an exhibition match. It was D.C. United's first game against a Spanish club. (By B. Echavarri -- Associated Press)   3. Tag This Article

Getafe, midway through its season and in better physical condition than United, is in 11th place among 20 teams in Spain with an 8-10-7 record. This is its second straight year in the first division after gaining promotion following the 2003-04 season and easily avoiding relegation last year.

"We started pretty good, but then we made some mistakes," United Coach Peter Nowak said in a phone interview after the game. "Where we are in preseason, it was a great experience for these guys."

United, amid a two-week preseason tour in Spain, also has closed-door scrimmages scheduled against Atletico Madrid's reserves and second division soccer club Rayo Vallecano before returning to Washington late next week.

United played well against Getafe in the first half but lacked cohesiveness after the break as the teams made several substitutions.

Filomeno, an Argentine forward who joined the club late last season, threatened twice in the first few minutes before one-timing Josh Gros's cross to give United a 1-0 lead. He also had an apparent goal disallowed by an offside infraction just before halftime.