DC United's season ended abruptly last night (October 19) with a 3-0 loss to Charlotte FC at Audi Field.
On the strength of two straight road wins, DC was in the driver's seat for a playoff berth before the game. A win or a draw would have put the team through, and even a loss gave them a chance. Unfortunately, other results did not completely go their way (one in a heartbreaking manner), and DC is out of the playoffs.
DC started Bono in goal; Santos, McVey, Bartlett and Herrera in defense; Rodriguez, Ku-Dipietro, Klich and Stroud in midfield; and Pirani and Benteke at forward. They started well, dominating possession in the first half and outshooting Charlotte 6-3. Unfortunately, they could not put the ball in the net (except for a Benteke goal that was called back for offside). Charlotte gave up the second fewest goals in the league, 37 (only Seattle, with 35, gave up fewer) and it showed in a disciplined defense that really made no mistakes. Still, things looked hopeful at halftime.
DC continued to press for a goal, perhaps too much so. In the 58th minute, Charlotte's Pep Biel sent a long cross across midfield to Brandt Bronico to start a 2-on-1 break. Bronico raced down the left side. Klich hustled back to cover Bronico but was faked out badly and Bronico continued into the box. He crossed past Patrick Agyemang (who had drawn McVey) back to Biel, who volleyed an unmarked shot into the net to put Charlotte up 1-0.
DC brought in Schnegg for Santos and Dajome for Ku-Dipietro in the 60th minute. They battled hard for the equalizer; Benteke had another goal waved off for offside in the 65th minute. Further fresh legs (Enow for Rodriguez, Badji for Stroud) were added in the 67th minute.
Things got dire in the 75th minute; Charlotte's Tim Ream sent a through ball to Bronico on the left side (again) and he put a perfect cross on the foot of Agyemang, who just beat Schnegg to the ball to score and make it 2-0.
With Charlotte's defense as strong as it had been, this seemed like a mountain too steep to climb for DC, and it was. Peltola replaced McVey in the 79th minute, and DC continued to press, but Charlotte now had many open counterattacks, and missed several good chances before Liel Abada converted in the 91st minute to make it 3-0. That's how it ended.
By the 80th minute, DC fans at Audi Field were checking the scores of other games, hoping that results would still allow the team to back in to the playoffs. Two of three results had to go their way: Montreal needed to lose, Philadelphia needed to not win, and Atlanta needed to not win. Montreal was ahead (and ended up winning) 2-0 against NCYFC, so no help there. Philadelphia was losing (and ended up losing) 2-1 against Cincinnati, so that was helpful. It all came down to Atlanta at Orlando.
Atlanta had scored two early goals, and Orlando had pulled one back before halftime. Atlanta clung to a 2-1 lead as the game moved towards stoppage time. Cheers erupted from fans on the west side looking at their phones as Orlando's Duncan McGuire equalized in the 89th minute; DC might make the playoffs after all! Unfortunately (and another reason to hate VAR) the goal was overturned after a review. McGuire had his arm tucked against his body and the ball may have hit there as he settled it for the shots. Handball, no goal. It seemed harsh to me as I watched the replay later.
After the DC game was over, the players huddled in small groups around electronic devices, watching the end of the Orlando-Atlanta game. After 8 minutes of stoppage time in Orlando, Atlanta had held on for the win. Orlando had 2/3 of the possession and 20 shots (8 on goal), but the only statistic that mattered was 2 goals for Atlanta and 1 for Orlando. DC was out of the playoffs. The season was over. Obviously gutted, the players and Lesesne came over to acknowledge the fans (photo below).
So now it's "wait till next year" (again). When you only win one of your last 12 home games (and finish 4 games under .500, with a goal difference of -18), it's hard to make even MLS's very accommodating playoff structure. It definitely stings, though, to have your destiny in your own hands and not be able to take advantage. Hopefully we'll finally return to the playoff promised land in 2025.
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