By Steven Goff
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 26, 2008; D06

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."

A healthier roster will help the cause. After juggling his lineup for more than three months, Soehn has most of his starters available today. Moreno, however, said a knee ailment, which sidelined him much of the month and will require offseason surgery, has left him at no better than 70 percent. "The situation will determine when we use him, if we use him," Soehn said.

Whether motivation will translate into victory is another issue. On the road United is 2-10-2 -- both wins at Chicago -- and has conceded 20 more goals than it has scored (31-11). Columbus (16-7-6) is 10-2-2 at home and has yielded 15 goals at Crew Stadium. A 7-0-2 streak sealed the Supporters' Shield, awarded to the club with the most points, before it dropped a 3-1 decision at New York last week.

Crew Coach Sigi Schmid rested some of his regulars in that game, but is likely to go with his first team today in preparation for the playoffs. While Schmid is the favorite for coach of the year honors, Argentine midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto (19 assists) is the front-runner for most valuable player.

"We expect them to be what they've been all year," Soehn said.

United is hoping the same does not apply for its unpredictable squad. "We all know that there is an opportunity out there and it's all in our hands," Moreno said. "We have to play just like a playoff game because that's basically what it is."

United Notes: Club president Kevin Payne was fined $5,000 by MLS for "inappropriate conduct directed at an official" following a 5-2 loss at Los Angeles last month, the league announced. . . .

Rookie defender Greg Janicki, who received steady playing time in recent weeks, is questionable with a hamstring injury.