It's been quite the season for Major League Soccer, at least in terms of parity. Coming into Saturday's activity, only Columbus had laid claim to one of the eight MLS Cup playoffs spots, and every single team in the league remained mathematically alive in the chase for the playoffs. The glass half full assessment: the fates in command of D.C. United certainly chose a good year to force so many injuries and absences to their......

Poor D.C. United. US Open Cup success aside, it's been about as frustrating a season as a team could have. The first few months were filled with growing pains, trying to find a way to mold the side around new Argentinian signing Marcelo Gallardo. It began to pay off in early summer, with the team finally finding form and playing with the easy-on-the-eyes attacking style in such a marked contrast to some of the league's......

It's certainly been a long and winding road for D.C. United's recent addition Thabiso Khumalo. The South African forward was drafted in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft by Chicago - but never saw the field. The man they call "Boyzzz" has subsequently been on a three year odyssey through a veritable tour of second and third division American soccer - stops in Charleston, Wilmington, and Pittsburgh have resulted in varying levels of success: twenty games per......

One could make the argument that D.C. United is the most decorated outfit in Major League Soccer - after all, the team has won 11 pieces of silverware in just 12 years of existence, and no other squad can come close to matching that rate of success. But for all its triumphs as the flag-bearers of the still-fledgling American first division, the simple fact remains: the last time the Black and Red actually lifted a......

With only ten minutes remaining in DC United’s match against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night, previously beleaguered comeback-player-of-the-year candidate Santino Quaranta worked his way through midfield and slid a wonderful angled pass behind the New York defense to MLS all-time leading goalscorer Jaime Moreno. Moreno’s first touch was immaculate and his second eluded the NY defender, forcing him into a rash challenge that brought down the United legend and won a penalty.......

Consistency is of pinnacle importance to a team's success at the highest level of club soccer. Unfortunately for D.C. United, finding consistency and keeping it has been this season's significant challenge. After dropping three points on the road to the New England Revolution midweek, the squad had alternated wins and losses in their previous five matches. On the plus side, their opponents on Saturday night were their Western Conference mirror image - the Colorado Rapids......

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup may not have the allure of its English counterpart, the FA Cup, but it's still one of the oldest competitions in the world, now in it's 94th year (out-dating the main cup competitions in both Germany and Italy by years). But even though it's fun and unpredictable cup football, when one of the notable claims to tradition of the tournament is the triple victories achieved in 1980, 1982, and......

A string of Superliga losses followed by one of D.C. United's worst showings of the year against Houston left the second half of the season somewhat in doubt. Which D.C. United would show up for MLS' crucial home stretch? The confused squad that started the season 2-7 and lacked any form of cohesion, or the offensive dynamos that ran roughshod over their MLS opponent en route to a 5-0-1 record preceding the All Star break?......

A power outage at RFK on July 12 left half the stadium in the dark in the middle of a D.C. United game. Tonight's United game has been postponed due to another outage. At least this time it didn't occur halfway through the match. Due to a power outage surrounding RFK Stadium (yes, that's right, another one), tonight's D.C. United match against the Houston Dynamo has been postponed until tomorrow evening. According to the......

Rising temperatures and high humidity created oppressive conditions during yesterday's match between D.C. United and the L.A. Galaxy. The Galaxy ended up taking the worst of it, with United's attack providing the most unbearable heat. Day games are normally held in the mid-to-late afternoon in order to avoid playing directly under the sun. To maximize exposure, the game was scheduled before the afternoon's European Championship and broadcast nationally on ABC. The game promised two assets......

Saturday's early game storyline must have seemed awfully familiar to D.C. United. After dominating possession for several stretches in the opening minutes, a momentary lapse of coverage in the defense led to a successful opposing counterattack. To add to the similarities, the protagonist of the counterattack was none other than last Wednesday's lone goal scorer, Danny Dichio. Though United fought back to tie the score, the 6'2" target man added another strike in the closing......

One wonders what DC United Coach Tom Soehn said to his team at halftime. Down 1-0 after dominating possession in the first half, without two banged up star midfielders, but at home against a tough but beatable Chicago Fire team, did he make tactical changes? Did he exhort the players to make the second half a turning point in the season? Did he pull misfiring forward (and reigning MVP) Luciano Emilio aside and give him......

He'd never admit it, but you know that somewhere, sometime before the start of the season, D.C. United coach Tom Soehn looked at his team's busy schedule for the first month of the season, and then said a small bit of thanks for who they were playing. Of their first five MLS games, they were scheduled to play exactly one playoff team from last season. They had home games against perennially struggling Columbus, anemic Toronto,......

Last night, D.C. United had a chance to get their MLS season back on track. They came into the match with a 1-2-0 record in MLS play this season, including a recent 4-0 loss at much-maligned Real Salt Lake. A home date against a manageable opponent seemed to be just what the doctor ordered. Instead, United suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Columbus Crew that left them searching for answers. After experimenting......

A banner weekend, indeed. The Washington Capitals and Wizards clinched a playoff berth within 24 hours. This week we have another full lineup of Washington area sports, highlighted by a jampacked Wednesday night featuring three local teams playing home games in front of massive crowds. Our picks for this week are below. Go on and add your own in the comments. TUESDAY With all area teams taking tonight off, we suggest you clear your plans......

Many doubts regarding D.C. United's attack were squelched Saturday night. Following a pair of 0-2 defeats last week, United had a chance to start fresh at home. Riding the strength of their high powered attack, they dispatched Toronto F.C. cleanly in front of 20,161 RFK faithful. The result was never in question. United got off to a dream start with two goals in the opening five minutes, and their advantage was solidified when TFC lost......

The Washington Capitals have won eight of their last nine games. Will they be able to maintain their run of form for the final three games of the season? The Caps sit on the edge of the playoffs, though they are on the outside looking in. Their three home games this week should give fans some of the more thrilling moments in recent seasons. What's more, there's plenty of other regional sports action on the......

While much of America is focused on the NCAA Men's Tournament, we are forced to turn elsewhere upon the elimination of our area's three teams. And come on, you know you aren't going to win that office pool your friend pressured you to join. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternative sports viewing options this week. Feel free to leave your own in the comments. TUESDAY The Washington Capitals just won't quit. They've been scrambling among......

The Houston Dynamo won a second consecutive MLS Cup on Sunday at RFK, besting the New England Revolution in a come-from behind 2-1 victory. The Revolution lived up to their tag as the league’s nearly men, losing yet again in the championship match. This loss had to be especially painful for the Revs as they opened the scoring in the 20th minute. Veteran playmaker Steve Ralston found space on the right and crossing perfectly......

Our beloved D.C. United may have crashed and burned (again) in the MLS playoffs this season, but life goes on. Also, the playoffs go on -- right in our backyard, in fact. Many moons ago, Washington was picked to host the 2007 MLS Cup this Sunday at noon, at RFK. Time to put aside your grieving and check out the game. Tickets start at $30, maybe even less on Craigslist. When else are you going......

For 25 minutes, D.C. United attacked the Chicago Fire unrelentingly. They poured all of their efforts forward, creating chance after chance. In the process, they scored the two goals they needed to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. Unfortunately, United's disjointed play during the preceding 70 minutes allowed Chicago to tally two goals of their own, earning them the 2-2 tie, the 3-2 series victory on aggregate, and a ticket to the next round.......

D.C. United's MLS season is on the line tonight at RFK Stadium (7:30 p.m.). After a dominant regular season that saw United go 10-2-3 at home, they return to RFK for possibly the last time this season. Standing in their way is their playoff nemesis, the Chicago Fire. In 5 total playoff games against the Fire, D.C. has yet to score a goal. United will need to find net if they wish to move on......

This was not exactly the weekend that D.C. United was hoping for. A 3-2 loss to the non-playoff bound Columbus Crew closed out United's MLS regular season and snapped United's unbeaten streak (dating back to July). Worse yet, United lost their two star strikers, Luciano Emilio and Jaime Moreno, to foot injuries. With last night's Fire victory over the Galaxy, United were assigned the Thursday night time-slot against a Fire team that might be......

FRIDAY: >> Two shows for DAM! Fest tonight, with events at Rock and Roll Hotel and the Red and the Black. The former includes an appearance by recent Three Stars subject the Beanstalk Library, plus The Exit, Dragons of Zynth and The Teeth. Stick around for the free afterparty, We Fought the Hej, a combo of two of our favorite DJ nights, Hej Hej and We Fought the Big One. >> Don't forget to check......

>> D.C. United star striker Luciano Emilio is neck and neck with the Chicago Fire's Cuauhtemoc Blanco for MLS Goal of the Week. Emilio scored his 20th goal of the season with an sensational left-footed volley. Be sure to vote. It's your civic duty. >> It's been exactly five years since the sniper shootings perpetrated by John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo began. [WTOP] >> "D.C. Council leaders will not hold up the......

Despite having to fend off a persistent Chivas Guadalajara attack for most of the game and playing a man down for 50 minutes, United pulled out a 2-1 victory in the first leg of the Copa Nissan Sudamericana home-and-home series. From the get-go the Goats took advantage of quick, incisive passing to carve through the United midfield. Four times in the opening 16 minutes Chivas attackers had a clear line to the goal, yet......

It's hardly the nicest stadium, but RFK Stadium holds a venerable place in Washington sports history. Open since 1962, when it was called District of Columbia Stadium, the venue has hosted two MLB franchises, the Washington Redskins during their glory years, the most successful MLS club ever, international soccer tournaments, concerts, and on and on. It even hosted Team America! Sunday's final Nats home game, a 5-3 win over the Phillies, isn't the last......

Sunday afternoon D.C. United went toe-to-toe with the New England Revolution in a battle for supremacy of the Eastern Conference, and arguably the entire MLS. The match did not disappoint. It was a competitive affair in which each side took turns playing from behind before United dealt the knockout blow and cruised to victory. By most standards, it was a fantastic match. Flash forward to last night. D.C. United is facing a Real Salt......

Yesterday afternoon's contest between D.C. United and the New England Revolution carried several levels of significance. With six games remaining for United and most of MLS, teams are becoming increasingly desperate to capture the three point bounty of each remaining game in the scramble for playoff spots. The Revolution came into RFK Stadium as the toughest foe remaining on United's schedule. The game constituted the last time United would face a sure-fire playoff team.......

D.C. United takes on Red Bull New York tonight in a match crucial to league standings and regional pride. United has taken advantage of a torrid August (3-0-0 in league play) to move into second place in the eastern conference. In NYRB they face an opponent that is fresh off of a high octane 5-4 victory over David Beckham and the LA Galaxy. The winner will retain sole possession of second place and assert themselves......