The last time United were in a playoff game? Well, Ben Olsen played in that match. Yeah. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson)
D.C. United fans, I’m going to keep this simple: if the black and red win—or even draw—tomorrow night at RFK Stadium, they’ll earn their first playoff berth in five years.
Yes, there are other scenarios that could see United through to Major League Soccer’s land of champagne showers and confetti cannons. A win or draw against Chicago next week would also suffice, as would a combination of losses from teams around them in the Eastern Conference. But let’s make no mistake here: tomorrow evening’s showdown with the Columbus Crew (7:30 p.m., CSN, Tickets) is a must-win.
“We’re at home and we need to get a win,” center back Brandon McDonald told the Washington Times yesterday. “We don’t want to go into any games, especially at home, going for a point. I think our mentality coming in is they’re coming to our field, and we have to handle business.”
United has done just that—handle their business—at home this year. The club is undefeated at RFK since their opener—a narrow 1-0 loss against Sporting Kansas City, a streak that is the longest in club history. And while many wrote the black and red off after DEROPOCALYPSE, the team has responded with authority, going 4-0-1 and the five games they’ve played without the league’s reigning most valuable player.
Under MLS’ newly revised playoff format, a win would indeed mean much more to United than a draw. United currently sits in third place in the East. While the top five teams in each conference make the playoffs, the fourth- and fifth-place teams are forced into a one-game playoff. The top three, on the other hand, get a bye and play a home-and-home series against their opponent.
The Crew comes into RFK with just as much to play for as United. Columbus enters the match needing to win their last two matches to see their way through to the post-season. Anchored by mid-season acquisitions Federico Higuain and Jairo Arrieta, they’ll certainly pose more of a challenge than United’s previous five opponents—none of whom will be making the playoffs this year.
United’s fans, it would appear, also realize the importance of this match—the team is projecting its first sellout of the year, though a few tickets still remain. In a year where the club has recorded its lowest attendance numbers in its 16-year history, it’ll be a sight for sore eyes to see RFK rocking once again. Let’s just hope it isn’t the last time we get to see that sight this season.
