DC United News Archives

The Wizards are playing out the string. D.C. United is hanging on by a thread. Thats the backdrop to the Wizards regular-season finale at 7:30 tonight at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

D.C. United solemnly held its final team meeting of the season Tuesday, understanding big changes could be made after the squad missed the MLS playoffs for the second consecutive year.

A late-season playoff push isn't the most opportune time to install a new player into the lineup, let alone one as important as a goalkeeper.

Claudio Lopez's penalty kick in second-half stoppage time salvaged a 2-2 tie for the Kansas City Wizards against D.C. United on Saturday night.

D.C. United needs a win at Kansas City on Saturday night and some help to qualify for the 2009 MLS Cup playoffs.

One team is in with a win, can still get there with a loss. Another needs to win or lose by two goals or fewer.

Vigorous rain, falling temperatures and a nervous audience served as a fitting backdrop for D.C. United's regular season home finale Saturday night, a setting that crystallized the club's bleak outlook in the waning days of a long, worrisome year.

But in a gritty performance against MLS's top club, United enhanced its playoff hopes with a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Crew before an announced crowd of 16,274 at RFK Stadium.

Luciano Emilio scored in the 17th minute on a gorgeous pass from Thabiso Khumalo and goalkeeper Steve Cronin made a flawless debut as United (9-8-12) moved into a four-way tie for eighth place with one game remaining. Only five of eight postseason berths have been secured, meaning D.C., Toronto, New England and Dallas -- all with 39 points -- as well as Chicago (42) and Colorado (40) remain in the chase.

The Crew's loping gait on its run toward a second consecutive Supporters' Shield was broken by D.C. United last night.

D.C. United stayed alive for another week, topping the Columbus Crew, 1-0, in Major League Soccer action at RFK Stadium on Saturday night.

The Columbus Crew will be aiming to clinch the Supporter's Shield, which goes to Major League Soccer's regular season champion, when they travel to take on D.C. United on Saturday night.

MLSnet.com With two weeks left in the MLS season, nine teams remain in contention for four playoff spots.

*Real Salt Lake and Chivas Guadalajara mixed it up during a 1-1 friendly tie before more than 16,000 at Rio Tinto.

Even the fiery leadership of Ben Olsen, left, hasn't arrested D.C.'s slide. The basic housekeeping looks like this: Columbus, Houston and Los Angeles have officially rung the playoff bell.

DC United players took it all off on the field for ESPN's body issue. Midfielder Ben Olsen says no one really wanted to take their robe off, they kind of all just stared at one another.

Tennis star Serena Williams, the NBA's Dwight Howard, the NFL's Adrian Peterson and mixed martial artist Gina Carano are among the 30-plus athletes posing nude or semi-nude in ESPN The Magazine's first-ever "Body Issue" hitting newsstands Oct.

Observations about this naked D.C. United photo from ESPN the Mag's upcoming Body Issue, in six parts.

Through its years of success, D.C. United has built the reputation of having one of the best home-field advantages in MLS.

Chivas USA earned an impressive 2-0 victory at D.C. United on Saturday night to position themselves in third in Major League Soccer's Western Conference.

Josh Wicks, D.C. United's starting goalkeeper since late May, will be out four to six weeks after dislocating his left shoulder and spraining his right knee on the same play during a 2-1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday at RFK Stadium.

Wicks left the match early in the second half because of the shoulder ailment and later complained of knee discomfort. MRI exams Monday revealed the severity of the injuries.

With Wicks out for the rest of the regular season, rookie Milos Kocic becomes United's top option in goal. Because the MLS roster deadline has passed, the club cannot sign a goalkeeper from overseas or a lower division. However, the league does allow teams to replace injured goalies with someone from the MLS player pool -- a collection of young keepers who are available leaguewide throughout the season in case of hardship.

The Tuzos are in second place in Group A with nine points, two more than Houston and one less than Arabe Unido of Panama, which took over the group lead by battering Isidro Metapan, 6-0, on Tuesday.