That about does it for D.C. pro soccer this year.
After D.C. United’s 2-1 loss to Landon Donovan on Saturday night – and wins last week by Seattle and San Jose – there will officially be no postseason in D.C. for the third straight year. It’s all there in reddish-purplish-maroon for all to see.
But United interim head coach Ben Olsen didn’t have to talk about that after the loss in Los Angeles, given he already stated a couple weeks ago that the team’s goal was simply not to finish in last place. Even that’s a lot to ask of United (5-17-3, 18 points), which is five points behind Houston (6-13-5, 23 points) – which visits RFK next weekend – and has just five games remaining.
Still, Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear sounded even more pessimistic after his squad squandered a 1-0 halftime lead to Dwayne De Rosario and desperate Toronto.
“The season’s over,” Kinnear said. “The way we’re playing, we are not going to do it. It’s sad to say it, but it is a reality.”
But back to D.C. What was learned at Home Depot Center? Nothing new, unfortunately. Andy Najar got another goal borne out of pressure on the L.A. defense, but United still couldn’t finish – Pablo Hernandez’s first half shot, which was bobbled then corralled on the goal line, and Branko Boskovic‘s poorly taken breakaway in the second half each helped make goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts look like a star – and wasn’t sharp enough on defense late. These are things that D.C. has struggled with all season.
As for the Freedom, Ashlyn Harris was the star in goal – hmmm, with Hope Solo undergoing shoulder surgery, might there be a chance for the youngster with the U.S.? – but her six saves only staved off the inevitable when Amy Rodriguez scored in the final minute of overtime to give Philadelphia a 1-0 victory. The Freedom have been bounced in the first round of the playoffs in each of the two WPS seasons.
