D.C. United Faces a Winning Proposition

There are two matches tonight that could impact D.C. United's future in the inaugural SuperLiga tournament, but with a strong performance in the first game, United is hoping it will not have to concern itself with the second one.

With a victory at the Houston Dynamo, United would clinch a berth in the semifinals of the eight-team MLS-Mexico tournament and keep alive its hopes of the $1 million grand prize.

With a tie or loss, however, United would have to return to its downtown hotel, turn on the television and root for Club America to tie or defeat Mexican rival Monarcas Morelia in a late-night match being played in suburban Chicago.

"We're approaching it like Morelia is going to win," United defender Devon McTavish said yesterday before the team departed for Texas. "We can hope for a good result for America, but at the end of the day, if we don't win, it's going to be tough."

D.C. and Houston enter the final day of group play tied for first place with 1-0-1 records and four points. Morelia (0-0-2) remains in contention with two points while Club America (0-2-0) is out of the running for one of the two semifinal berths.

If there is a winner in the D.C.-Houston match, that team will clinch a spot in the Aug. 14-15 semifinals, while the loser will have to hope Morelia ties or loses to advance. If United and the Dynamo tie and Morelia wins, all three will be even in the standings.

The first tiebreaker is head-to-head competition, which would not resolve anything because each team tied each other. The next mechanism (goal differential) might thrust one club into the semifinals and leave the other two deadlocked. The next step is goals scored in the competition, followed by picking a name out of a hat.

In the other group last night, Los Angeles scored four times in the first 18 minutes and held on to beat host Dallas, 6-5, and Pachuca edged Mexican rival Chivas, 1-0, in Commerce City, Colo. The Galaxy won the group and Pachuca finished second.

"Everyone is in a situation where they need to win, so that takes care of worrying about any other team," United midfielder Ben Olsen said. "It's about us, how we perform and what type of result we get."

Despite sluggish league performances of late, United was encouraged by an energetic and confident display during a 1-0 victory over Club America on Sunday night at RFK Stadium. The only negative was the club's inability to finish an abundance of scoring opportunities -- a failure that could come back to haunt United if, indeed, its fate is determined by the second or third tiebreakers.

"The part you're still not happy with is the chances that we keep missing," Coach Tom Soehn said, "but the idea of how we pressured and how we were organized and how we defended . . . that part of it we have to continue."

United has not had any success in Houston the past two seasons, losing a pair of 1-0 decisions. In its visit there July 8, D.C. labored to sustain an attack, missed two quality chances and watched the reigning MLS champions score on a deflection late in the first half.

Soehn seems likely to use the same lineup that started Sunday, but with defender Bryan Namoff and forward Guy-Roland Kpene back from hamstring injuries, he will have more options than in recent weeks.

Forward Jaime Moreno also made the trip, though United's captain has not played in 2 1/2 weeks because of a hamstring ailment and probably would not be utilized until late in the match. Defender Greg Vanney remains sidelined with an ankle injury.

"The idea is to worry about yourself," Soehn said of the various scenarios that could unfold tonight. "We have to take care of business and we're going there to win."

United Note: Tournament organizers have yet to announce possible semifinal venues, but if United is paired with a Mexican team, the club likely would play the game at FedEx Field. RFK is not available on the semifinal dates because of Washington Nationals games.

United has not played at the Redskins' facility since a 2-1 loss to English club Chelsea in a 2005 friendly.