D.C. United did not have an impressive regular season record in 2004 — finishing 11-10-9 — but it still won MLS Cup.
Despite sitting just one victory shy of that championship team, this year’s United (10-13-3, 33 points) isn’t showing championship form, and its postseason hopes may have been dashed for good with Sunday’s 3-0 road loss to FC Dallas.
The defeat dropped United to 2-10-1 away from RFK Stadium this season, a mark also similar to the 2004 team’s 2-8-5 record on the road. But that team surrendered only 42 goals all season. With four games left, this year’s United has allowed 46.
After losing six of this year’s first eight matches, it took D.C. the first two and a half months of the season to climb into the playoff picture. United finally lifted themselves into the wild card contention on June 14, with a 4-1 over New York that improved the team record to 5-7-1. D.C. held onto that spot for three months.
But after losing three of the last four, United is again on the outside looking in, and it no longer has sole control over its destiny. D.C.’s best hope is that the team immediately ahead in the Eastern Conference standings, New York (9-9-8, 35 points), falters while United wins out.
In 2004, United rallied with a late-season surge by forward Alecko Eskandarian. Esky will be in Washington this weekend, but as a member of visiting Chivas USA.
