Cue the Fat Lady….

United went down to Mexico in search of a win against Toluca to asure advancement into the knockout stages of the CONCACAF Champions League/Cup.  United put forth one of its most complete efforts of the year, but only came away with a tie on Chris Pontius' fantastic goal from distance.  But United needed help from San Juan Jabloteh at home against Marathon.  A SJJ win or tie would have put United through, but Marathon proved to be too much, and United's hopes for international achievement faded.

But that left domestic goals for United……because they were in dire straits in MLS competition, too.  The now traditional late season swoon left United with a 'must win' (actually they've been in 'must win' mode for weeks, now) in Kansas City.  United again had some good chances, and should have been up by one or two goals just minutes into the game (especially if Christian Gomez looked up to have a general idea of where the goal was after dribbling through the defense).  The team played with a lot of drive and desperation (as the situation dictatated), but KC got on the board first.  Then Christian Gomez (already sporting bandages worthy of a fife and drum corps), came up with a hurt foot.  Gomez was replaced by Jamie Moreno.  But the team ended the first half down by a goal.

Tommy Soehn brought in Ben Olsen to start the second half.  You could see four players try and exert their wills on the game: Moreno, Olsen, James and Fred.

Yep.  James and Fred.  James was active all night, despite being the right back in a three man defense.  He routinely exploited space along the flanks, and prodoced scoring plays throughout the night.  Fred was also a revelation, considering he's been MIA most of the season either due to injury or poor form (though one has to wonder if his troubles may be rooted in the heath of his baby that had surgery earlier this year).  But Fred figured in the rest of the game's scoring.  He was fouled in the box, permitting Moreno to add onto his career talley by putting home another PK, knoting up the game. 

United continued to attack, but KC would counter.  On one late counter (after Boyzzz had replaced a rather inactive Emilio) James came up lame with an apparent torn/pulled hamstring.  He still managed to come back and block a scoring attempt.  The training staff could only attempt to wrap and tape up James like a UPS package and send him back on the field.  Simms dropped back to right back, and James just kind of hung out in the middle of the field, only going as far as he could hobble.  But still, he soldiered on.  Fred once again forced a KC foul just outside the 18.  The cross sailed in, and was headed back in front of the goal.  Kevin Hartman (mabye best know in DC United circles for his assist to Ben Olsen in MLS Cup 99……wow that was 10 years ago?), could only meekly punch it as Jamie Moreno causually got in the way, as James hobbled up to it and headed the ball home.  Putting DC United in the playoffs……for about 8 minutes. 

KC, playing for nothing except pride….and maybe free parking, who knows?…brought the game back.  United gave up a free kick from about 40 yards out.  The kick struck a jumping Moreno in the head, but referee Ricard Salazar ruled that Moreno handled the ball, or used improperly tied shoelaces, or hadn't dyed his hair in weeks. and ordered another free kick from about 10 yards closer.  This kick was shot dangerously close to the lower left and corner for Cronin.  The new United keeper desperately dove and stop the ball, but could not handle it cleanly, the ball bounced just feet from him.  Cronin smartly swept the ball out of play behind the goal line with his feet forcing a corner, instead of flopping on the ball with on-rushing attackers.  The ensuing corner however, is where United's fate was sealed.  The ball wasn't cleared in a goal mouth scramble, and KC shot the ball near the post where Fred was standing performing the Brazilian Funky Chicken and the ball happened to glance off of his elbow.

OK, Fred desperately threw his elbow into the path of a sure goal and was caught.  Though he did throw himself to the turf in an effort to hide behind Ben Olsen.  You can't blame Fred for trying.  But Claudio Lopez stepped up to the spot and just ripped home a shot pass Cronin effectively ending United's season….which actually didn't end until an hour or so later when Seattle scored late to beat Dallas.  Which didn't help United in MLS's incredibly complicated tie-breaking procedure, which is based on an incredible equation incorporating wins, ties, losses, average left shoe size, sum of all uniform numbers, and Avagadro's Number.

Denoument

For a second consecutive year, a late season swoon prevented United a chance at the playoffs.  There'll be soul searching in the organization as front office and coaching jobs are evaluated.  And United will need to decide which players they'll want to retain for next year, and which they'll make available in the expansion draft as the Philadelphia Union enter the league.

There are more than enough excuses and blame to go around (more on that later…it's a long offseason), this season wasn't meant to be one with numerous titles, it just wasn't built for it.  And it's strenghts and deficiencies showed throughout the year.  This was more of a transitional year (not so much rebuilding, not so much promising).  What'll be interesting is how things shake out for 2010.