D.C. United’s quest to make the playoffs has come down to the last game of the season. The four-time MLS champion, which so often breezed into the playoffs in the past, must beat the league-leading Columbus Crew to reach the postseason. A loss or a tie means United will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
“We have to go out there and play just like a playoff game because basically that’s what it is,” United captain Jaime Moreno said.
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United faces a giant task, however: beating the best team in the league.
Making matters worse, United has posted a poor road record (2-10-2) and has not won away from home since Aug. 18, when it beat Chicago 1-0. The Crew have lost just twice on their own field and already have clinched the Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the team with the best record. Their last defeat at Crew Stadium was June, 7 when the team lost 2-0 to San Jose.
“When we had our good squad, we were tough to beat on the road.” United coach Tom Soehn said. “Obviously, it’s been a tough year in so many ways.”
Failing to make the postseason would be a big fall for United, which won the Supporters’ Shield last season. Injuries have plagued the club this year, along with a sometimes struggling defense.
“We can look back at this season in December and say it was a losing season or look at it for the rest of our lives and say it was an amazing experience with all the ups and downs,” United forward Santino Quaranta said. “This game has the makings of being something really special.”
The dramatic final game of United’s turbulent regular season also could be a preview of the conference semifinals. If United wins, it would play Western Conference top seed Houston at RFK Stadium on Saturday night in the first game of the playoffs after Kansas City beat New England 3-1.
If United fails to win, the Red Bulls will claim the final wild card berth.
The Crew are led by league MVP favorite Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The 35-year-old Argentine midfielder has notched seven goals and a league-high 19 assists.
“You know what his strengths are, and you try and take those away,” Soehn said.
But there is some good news for United. The club is undefeated in two MLS games after going through an awful patch. United is coming off a scoreless tie at Houston and a 2-1 home win over New England. And for the first time since late June, all of United’s key players (with the exception of midfielder Marcelo Gallardo) are ready to play.
“There are actually some options,” said Soehn, who has been forced to play reserves in games because of injuries.
Moreno said he won’t start but likely will see some action in the second half. The Bolivian forward, who retired from national team duty Wednesday, is one assist shy of 100 in his MLS career.
As for Columbus, the team wants to enter the playoffs on a high note after falling 3-1 to the Red Bulls last week.
“We want D.C. playing for their lives,” Crew captain Frankie Hejduk told the Columbus Dispatch. “Their whole season comes down to this game, so that’s a great test for us heading into the playoffs.”
United would like to get a little payback after losing 2-1 at home to the Crew in April.
“Everyone has to show up and play, and we have to leave it all out there because we have no tomorrow,” United defender Devon McTavish said. “If we walk away with a tie, the season is over.”
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