United draws, is eliminated from playoff contention

United 2, Wizards 2

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- For 10 minutes late on Saturday night, it seemed as though D.C. United had done what it needed to do to put itself in position to earn a playoff spot, coming back from a one-goal deficit to take an unlikely lead late in its regular season finale at the Kansas City Wizards.

Had the result stood, United midfielder Fred no doubt would have been the hero for sparking the win by drawing a suspect penalty call that started the comeback.

But as fortunate as D.C. had been to get that call, it was just as unlucky two minutes into extra time when Fred stopped a shot with his arm on the goal line, earning a red card and a penalty kick that Kansas City midfielder Claudio López buried, leaving United with a 2-2 draw and left to hope for results from around the league.

About two hours after the final whistle had blown, however, the team was eliminated from playoff contention when the Seattle Sounders downed FC Dallas, 2-1, in Seattle.

The result not only left D.C. out of the postseason for the second consecutive season but also likely will result in wholesale changes this offseason, and could spell the end for United Coach Tom Soehn.

Considering United's history, the loss could be the last of Soehn's career with the organization.

United has never had a coach for more than three seasons, and the only other coach who failed to take the team to the postseason in two consecutive seasons, Thomas Rongen in 2000 and 2001, was fired.

Soehn may not be the only casualty this offseason, however, as several highly-paid veterans might also not be back in a United uniform next season.

"This organization is not used to [missing the playoffs two years in a row] and if that's the case we all have to hold our hands up and take part of the blame, it's that simple," United veteran midfielder Ben Olsen said. "Every one of us, we've all failed the organization at some point this year and we're all in this together and we'll move forward. You can't make the playoffs every year but two in a row is alarming and we'll certainly look to remedy that next year."

D.C. needed help entering the night, but by early in the second half of their match the New York Red Bulls had done their part, beating Toronto FC, 5-0, to significantly boost United's position.

That result would mean little, though, if D.C. could not get a win.

Three times United wasted golden opportunities in the first half -- most notably midfielder Christian Gomez's miss from 15 yards out in the 22nd minute and defender Julius James's header off the far post in the 27th.