Nevermind that D.C. United lost three games in a row at home during a crucial September stretch or that they played a dozen matches more than Real Salt Lake, who stole the eighth MLS playoff spot away from them.
The real culprits in United’s recent demise — in each of the last two seasons, in fact — have been the woodwork and midfielder Brad Evans.
United has hit the frame five times in its past two regular-season finales: three times last season at Columbus and twice last weekend in Kansas City. Thabiso “Boyzzz” Khumalo‘s crossbar blast from six yards away last October is still the best, topping Rodney Wallace‘s ping off the post in stoppage-time last Saturday at the Wizards.
But Evans owns the daggers. Last year, he drove in the game-winner in a 1-0 win for Columbus. Last weekend, he again had a game-winner, but not for the Crew or against D.C. Instead, it put Seattle past Dallas, 2-1. If the Sounders had tied, United might’ve squeaked into the playoffs courtesy of a complicated set of tiebreakers.
At least United head coach Tom Soehn won’t blame himself.
