Final
United 'should get three points' against Chivas
Sep 20, 2011 - 9:14 PM Washington, D.C. (Sports Network) - D.C. United is the only team in MLS this season with more points on the road than at home, but to complete a worst-to- playoff season, it must display good form at home down the stretch.United has accumulated 19 points on the road and 15 at home, but with five of its final eight regular-season games at RFK Stadium, starting Wednesday night against Chivas USA, a few home wins are needed to gain a postseason berth.
D.C. (8-8-10) had the worst record in MLS last season, but Ben Olsen has made the club more competitive in his first full year as manager, and can lead the club he used to play for back to the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
But Olsen believed it was important to leave the weekend's 3-0 loss at Seattle Sounders FC in the past, and focus on Chivas (7-12-10).
"I don't necessarily think it was a 3-0 game but all coaches that lose 3-0 say that, don't they?" Olsen said. "Throughout a season you're going to have some games like this where a team makes a couple mistakes and you get punished.
"Again, we are in no position to sit and dwell on things and I think they know that, that there's games coming up that are very important. We have a big one Wednesday."
Although United sits just sixth in the Eastern Conference, it has played two fewer games than every other team in the division. Of the five squads ahead of D.C. in the East, two have played three more matches and one four.
But, regardless of the games in hand, it will not matter if United is not able to earn full points in a number of games late in the season. Dwayne De Rosario believed D.C. should beat Chivas.
"We'll be mentally ready against a team where we should get three points, but I think what we learned (against Sounders FC) is that when its coming down to crunch time, any mistake you can get punished," De Rosario said.
"We've got to limit our mistakes and keep our chances going forward."
United has just one win in its last four, but that was earlier this month when it defeated Chivas USA 3-0 in California. And the team has a chance to end its recent struggles with goalkeeper Bill Hamid and midfielder Santino Quaranta on track to return to the starting lineup.
Chivas USA has lost four straight and is winless in six in a row, but with 10 playoff spots in the 18-team league, it is also alive in the postseason hunt.
However, after a 3-2 loss against the Chicago Fire last weekend, when it went down two goals, tied the match, then lost even with a man advantage, it could mark the beginning of the end with another loss against United.
"If we do want to get into the playoffs, if we have any hope of getting into the playoffs, we really, really need to be sharper, more focused all over the field for 90 minutes," Chivas USA coach Robin Fraser said.
"I thought we had moments (against Chicago) that were quite good but we had moments that were horrible as well. Good teams don't have horrible moments."
"Good teams have great moments, good moments, and maybe fair moments. But good teams don't have horrible moments."
Chivas forward Juan Pablo Angel, who had an own goal against Chicago, admitted the team has to be able to regroup and has no choice but to shoot for a result at United. With Toronto FC visiting Chivas on Saturday, a six-point week could spark the club to a playoff spot.
"We have to be able to just get out of this. We have to know we are competing for our lives and we are competing for the chance to make the playoffs," Angel said.
- CHIVAS USA: 2
D.C. UNITED: 2
Final
Sep 21 9:30 PM - CHIVAS USA: 0
D.C. UNITED: 1
Halftime
Sep 21 8:23 PM - CHIVAS USA: 0
D.C. UNITED: 0
1st Half - 44'
Sep 21 7:38 PM
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