United Gets One Last Shot at Playoff Berth

For weeks, D.C. United's attention has been divided between its own results and those of several other teams embroiled in the MLS playoff race. This afternoon Coach Tom Soehn and his players will consolidate their thoughts on just one club: United.

In the final match of the league's seven-month, 210-game regular season, United is on the road needing to defeat MLS's points leader, the Columbus Crew, to claim the final postseason berth and extend its consecutive playoff streak to six. Otherwise, the club seems headed for another roster makeover and perhaps a coaching change this winter.

"It's a great situation to be in," Soehn said. "Now it is up to us."

The opportunity was made possible Thursday night when the New York Red Bulls, two points ahead of United in the congested Eastern Conference, were routed by Chicago, 5-2. United (11-14-4, 37 points) entered the week needing New York or Kansas City to lose.

New York's defeat also allowed the Wizards, who held the tiebreaker over the Red Bulls (10-11-9, 39), to clinch one of the league's two wild-card slots. Kansas City (11-10-9, 42) won last night at New England, 3-1, to lock up the No. 4 seed in the East.

A United victory will set up a playoff series with two-time defending champion Houston starting Saturday night at RFK Stadium. A tie or loss will send New York to the postseason.

Nearly everyone in the D.C. organization watched Thursday's nationally televised match. Soehn was home in Ashburn wearing his old jersey from his days as a Chicago defender, but then made sure to remove it as soon as the game ended.

When the team regrouped at RFK Stadium on Friday, "Some guys were singing, 'Fi-re, Fi-re!'" captain Jaime Moreno said, mimicking Chicago's anthem that is heard after the Fire scores at Toyota Park.

"I don't know if it is meant to be, but it seems like something good is going to happen now," midfielder-forward Santino Quaranta said.

Between injuries, suspensions and a grueling nonleague schedule, not much good has happened for United this year. It enjoyed a prosperous stretch in June and early July, but for the most part, the season has been a major disappointment after finishing with the best record in MLS the previous two seasons.

United remained in the hunt by salvaging a 0-0 tie at Houston on Oct. 12 and coming from behind to defeat New England, 2-1, four days later. Two international road games were also in the mix, and although United settled for a tie and a loss, the effort put forth by a squad of mostly reserves inspired the regulars.

"It's been a tough year in so many ways," Soehn said, "but a lot of those situations have made us a better team."