SB Nation DC - D.C. United Vs. Portland Timbers: 1-1 Draw Eliminates United From Playoff Contentionhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2011-10-20T12:40:58-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/22655782011-10-20T12:40:58-04:002011-10-20T12:40:58-04:00Where Do D.C. United Go After Seeing MLS Playoff Hopes Dashed
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<figcaption>WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 19: Head coach Ben Olsen of D.C. United reacts after losing against the Portland Timbers at RFK Stadium on October 19, 2011 in Washington, DC.(Photo by Ned Dishman/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Now that they've been eliminated from the playoffs, how will D.C. United prepare their roster for 2012?</p> <p>WASHINGTON, D.C. - In the moments following D.C. United's 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers, head coach Ben Olsen was asked how he would approach Saturday's now-meaningless match against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebluetestament.com/">Sporting Kansas City</a>.</p>
<p>"We want to win," Olsen said. "We don't want to end this year on a loss. We want to reward our fans with something to cheer about. We will go at it with the best team possible--that's still walking after this game."</p>
<p>Injuries notwithstanding, it doesn't require a great leap of imagination to think that some of those who will suit up for United on Saturday will be playing for their jobs next season. But a quick glance at the roster and Wednesday night's starting lineup reveals that any changes are likely to be mostly peripheral.</p>
<p>For reference, <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2011/10/19/2501548/d-c-united-vs-portland-timbers-ben-olsen-makes-three-changes-to/in/2265578">here's the starting lineup</a> from Wednesday night's game. As Olsen pointed out Wednesday night, United started two rookies (former Akron teammates <span>Perry Kitchen</span> and <span>Chris Korb</span>) and brought on a third (<span>Blake Brettschneider</span>) as a late substitute. All three of these players are young, cheap and not going anywhere (Nor, for that matter, is Olsen himself). <span>Bill Hamid</span>, <span>Ethan White</span>, and <span>Andy Najar</span> aren't rookies, but all are very young players who will also be around next season. <span>Brandon McDonald</span> recently signed a multi-year contract with United, so his services have been secured for 2012 and beyond. <span>Josh Wolff</span> has a club option for 2012, which I believe will be picked up.</p>
<p>I think it was intriguing that Olsen dropped <span>Clyde Simms</span> and <span>Stephen King</span> to the bench Wednesday night. Of the two, King is younger and cheaper than the veteran Simms, whose absence raises the question: If Olsen won't use him for the most important game of the season, has Simms outlived his usefulness at United? I think he may have, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Simms move on and King take the central midfield role.</p>
<p>Continuing down Wednesday night's bench, we have <span>Joe Willis</span>, who's likely to supplant <span>Steve Cronin</span> as Hamid's backup once and for all next season; <span>Kurt Morsink</span>, who's cheap, but has only made two appearances all year; Austin da Luz, who will likely stay around to provide cover on the left wing; and <span>Joseph Ngwenya</span>, who managed to not score a goal in 15 appearances and is only staying in D.C. if he takes a massive pay cut.</p>
<p>Of those who didn't make the bench Wednesday night, <span>Chris Pontius</span> is a no-brainer to return next season. The 24-year-old was United's best all-around player until he broke his tibia Sept. 10 against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://delete.sbnprivate.com/">Chivas USA</a> and it's no coincidence that the Black-and-Red had won just once in the eight games since the injury.</p>
<p>Less certain are the futures of <span>Branko Boskovic</span> and Dejan Jakovic. Boskovic suffered a knee injury in a U.S. Open Cup match against New England back in April and hasn't played since. Jakovic injured his hamstring playing a Gold Cup warm-up match for Canada and struggled to return to fitness. Neither play comes cheap, but Boskovic's status as a designated player means that his salary is easier to absorb and is why I think he'll get one more chance to prove himself here. Jakovic, on the other hand, has White and McDonald breathing down his neck to be the starting centerback and might have to adjust his salary and expectations of playing time accordingly.</p>
<p>That brings me to two big names I haven't yet mentioned: <span>Dwayne De Rosario</span> and Charlie Davies. De Rosario's MVP-caliber performance, <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/dc-united/2011/9/25/2447648/is-dwayne-de-rosario-the-mvp-of-mls">which I discussed some time ago</a>, has given the Canadian international remarkable leverage in negotiations for a new contract. Fortunately for D.C. United fans, his performance hasn't gone unnoticed by Club President Kevin Payne and General Manager Dave Kasper. Throw in the fact that D.C. United has one designated player spot available, and I expect the club to make strong play for De Rosario.</p>
<p>As for Davies: Was it only seven months ago that he scored two goals in a 3-1 season-opening win against Columbus? It's felt like seven years recently, as Davies has grown frustrated with his playing time and seen his production dip. Davies' hat trick against Chivas USA Sept. 10 have been his only goals since June 25. At the moment, he looks less like the Comeback Player of the Year and more like the greatest "What If?" in the history of American soccer. If United wants to make Davies' loan move permanent, they'll have to pay his French club, Sochaux, $1.2 million. I have no doubt they'll think thrice before doing so. But in the end, Davies' 11 goals were still good for second on the club this season, and that's a very hard thing to throw away.</p>
<p>So, in the end, I see a <a href="http://www.dcunited.com/club/first-team">D.C. United roster</a> with very few significant changes, which is about what you'd expect for a team that is still young and still learning to win games together. Whether they can turn another year's worth of experience and cohesion into a playoff berth is anyone's guess.</p>
<p><b>Who should go: </b>Steve Cronin, Kurt Morsink, Joseph Ngwenya, Clyde Simms.</p>
<p><i>For more on D.C. United, visit <a href="http://www.blackandredunited.com">Black and Red United</a></i><i>.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/dc-united/2011/10/20/2502583/where-do-d-c-united-go-from-hereSamuel Chamberlain2011-10-20T08:15:13-04:002011-10-20T08:15:13-04:00VIDEO: Dwayne De Rosario's Goal That Almost Brought D.C. United Back
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<p>D.C. United's playoff hopes ended with a 1-1 draw to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stumptownfooty.com/">Portland Timbers</a> at RFK Stadium on Wednesday night, but not before one last bit of magic from <span>Dwayne De Rosario</span>. De Rosario scored his 13th goal since being acquired by D.C. United on June 27, and it was in a huge spot in the 72nd minute.</p>
<p>Alas, it was not enough to give D.C. United the win, but it was enough to convince Timbers head coach John Spencer to <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/dcunited/status/126857765967765504">make some strong statements after the game.</a></p>
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<div class="tweet-text tweet-text-large">[Timbers] Head Coach John Spencer: "If [Dwayne De Rosario] doesn’t get MVP of the League there’s something wrong. Plain and simple." ... "For the last 3 months of the season he’s been the best player in the League by far, country mile. He needs to win MVP."</div>
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<p>Giving the MVP to a player on a non-playoff team is not usually done, but <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/dc-united/2011/9/25/2447648/is-dwayne-de-rosario-the-mvp-of-mls">as we've noted before</a>, De Rosario may be an exception.<a href="http://www.dcunited.com/video/2011/10/goal-de-rosario-makes-it-1-1"> Here's video of the goal</a>.</p>
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https://dc.sbnation.com/dc-united/2011/10/20/2502290/dwayne-de-rosario-goal-dc-united-portland-timbersMike Prada2011-10-20T00:40:06-04:002011-10-20T00:40:06-04:00D.C. United Vs. Portland Timbers: Ben Olsen: 'This Team Will Get Better'
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<p>WASHINGTON, D.C. - Not many could have felt the sting of the 1-1 draw as acutely as D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen did. The breaks of the match summed up a frustrating home season for the Black-and-Red, in which they have notched only 20 of a possible 48 points with one home match still to play on Saturday against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebluetestament.com/">Sporting Kansas City</a>.</p>
<p>But the results were inescapable and Olsen had to face up to the fact that his beloved club would not be participating in the MLS playoffs for the fourth straight season, an unprecedented drought for one of the original MLS franchises.</p>
<p>"I am extremely proud of the guys [and] extremely disappointed that we haven't made the playoffs," Olsen said. "Again, I apologize to the fans and the organization. I'll take the blame for it. I can promise you I'll get better as a coach, and this team will get better."</p>
<p>Olsen admitted that <span>Blake Brettschneider's</span> <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-10-19-dc-united-vs-portland-timbers/highlights?videoID=20189">89th-minute header</a> that was chalked off for offside should not have counted: "Yeah, he's offside. I didn't think so at the time, but it was a good call because Troy [Perkins] is out. So basically you get one-versus-one back there."</p>
<p>The head coach didn't let match officials completely off the hook, however, as he drew attention to what he thought was a lack of protection for <span>Dwayne De Rosario</span>, who appeared to be less-than-completely fit as the season wound down (thanks in large part of a glut of D.C. United fixtures and World Cup qualifying duty for Canada). </p>
<p>"It seems like it's a new one every week - they are just kicking the [expletive] out of him," Olsen said. "I would do the same thing if I was playing Dwayne De Rosario. It's what [other players] are doing, and [the referees] have to protect him a little bit. He's taking all these knocks, and he labored through the first half, and somehow he found a way to <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-10-19-dc-united-vs-portland-timbers/highlights?videoID=20185">put us on his back</a>."</p>
<p>"We have been haunted by similar things throughout the year," Olsen concluded. "<a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-10-19-dc-united-vs-portland-timbers/highlights?videoID=20179">Balls whipped in</a>; we have probably given up more crosses than any team in the League. But that is something I know now, that is something we need to work on. We have recurring themes that I need to sort out. And that is on me to figure out. Next year, who's here, who's not. We will do that - we will make a better team next year."</p>
<p><i>For more on D.C. United, visit<a href="http://www.blackandredunited.com"> Black and Red United</a></i><i>.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/10/20/2502056/d-c-united-vs-portland-timbers-ben-olsen-this-team-will-get-betterSamuel Chamberlain2011-10-19T22:07:21-04:002011-10-19T22:07:21-04:00D.C. United Vs. Portland Timbers: Draw Eliminates United From Playoff Contention
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<p><span>Dwayne De Rosario</span> scored his 13th goal for D.C. United late in the second half, but it wasn't enough as D.C. United failed to make the postseason for a fourth straight year, managing only a 1-1 draw with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stumptownfooty.com/">Portland Timbers</a>.</p>
<p>De Rosario's goal in the 73rd minute was a thing of beauty as he received a pass at the top of the area from <span>Josh Wolff</span> and made his way to the left side of the area. From an acute angle, De Rosario shrugged off <span>Eric Brunner</span> and fired high into the net with his left foot.</p>
<p>That goal prompted a final 20 minutes of remarkable urgency and amazing chances. D.C. United had the ball in the net in the 89th minute, but assistant referee C.J. Morgante ruled the Blake Brettschneider was just offside when De Rosario played the ball into the box. Replays appeared to confirm that it was the correct decision, but only barely.</p>
<p>A few minutes earlier, <span>Brian Umony</span> had hit the underside of the bar for Portland, but assistant official Frank Anderson correctly ruled that the ball had not bounced over the line off the deflection.</p>
<p>In the second minute of stoppage time, De Rosario appeared to have an open net as he rounded Troy Perkins, but the previously hapless Brunner came steaming across the field to make a sliding block on the shot for a corner kick.</p>
<p>United's last best chance came in the fourth minute of stoppage time, when De Rosario found the late substitute <span>Joseph Ngwenya</span> with a square ball, but both the Zimbabwean and <span>Brettschneider</span> were denied by <span>Perkins</span>. Seconds later, the final whistle blew, and players from both teams hit the ground in pure exhaustion.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/10/19/2501821/d-c-united-vs-portland-timbers-draw-eliminates-united-from-playoffSamuel Chamberlain2011-10-19T20:54:32-04:002011-10-19T20:54:32-04:00D.C. United Vs. Portland Timbers: Kenny Cooper's Header Puts United Behind 1-0
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<p>In a game that they have to win to keep their postseason aspirations alive, D.C. United find themselves behind 1-0 at halftime through <span>Kenny Cooper's</span> headed goal in the 24th minute at RFK Stadium.</p>
<p>Cooper slipped between central defenders <span>Ethan White</span> and <span>Brandon McDonald</span> to head home a left-wing cross from former Black-and-Red player <span>Rodney Wallace</span>.</p>
<p>McDonald had nearly put United in front earlier in the half when his own header from <span>Andy Najar's</span> corner had gone just over the crossbar. That was D.C. United's best chance until the 33rd minute, when Andy Najar, who had briefly switched to D.C. United's left, cut inside from the byline toward the penalty area, but his right-footed shot rolled gently into the hands of <span>Troy Perkins</span>. A couple of moments later, <span>Charlie Davies</span> got on the end of a <span>Dwayne De Rosario</span> free kick, but he too couldn't get enough power on his shot and it rolled right to Perkins. </p>
<p>In the 40th minute, United spurned a golden chance when <span>Santino Quaranta</span> skipped around his man on the left side and sent a cross across the top of the six-yard area, where <span>Josh Wolff</span> deflected it just wide of the far post.</p>
<p>If D.C. United do not rally to win tonight's match, they will be eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth season in a row.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/10/19/2501700/d-c-united-vs-portland-timbers-coopers-header-puts-united-behind-1-0Samuel Chamberlain2011-10-19T19:27:28-04:002011-10-19T19:27:28-04:00D.C. United Vs. Portland Timbers: Ben Olsen Makes Three Changes To Starting Lineup
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<p>D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen has made three changes to the starting lineup from Saturday night's 2-1 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Chicago Fire</a>. <span>Clyde Simms</span> and <span>Stephen King</span> have both been dropped to the bench to make way for <span>Perry Kitchen's</span> move to a defensive midfield position from his usual right-back spot. <span>Dwayne De Rosario</span> has been dropped back to midfield to make way for <span>Charlie Davies</span>, who starts alongside <span>Josh Wolff</span>. <span>Ethan White</span> makes his first start since Sept. 29 as he has recovered from a left MCL strain. <span>Santino Quaranta</span> replaces Austin da Luz on the left wing.</p>
<p>Portland coach John Spencer has made three changes to the lineup that started Friday's 2-0 loss to Houston. Eric Alexander, <span>Rodney Wallace</span>, and <span>James Marcelin</span> replace <span>Mike Chabala</span>, <span>Darlington Nagbe</span>, and <span>Sal Zizzo</span>.</p>
<p><b>Full D.C. United Starting Lineup: </b><span>Bill Hamid</span> (GK), <span>Chris Korb</span>, Ethan White, Brendan McDonald, <span>Daniel Woolard</span>, <span>Andy Najar</span>, Perry Kitchen, Dwayne De Rosario, Santino Quaranta, Josh Wolff (Captain), Charlie Davies</p>
<p><b>Available D.C. United Substitutes: </b><span>Joe Willis</span> (GK), <span>Kurt Morsink</span>, Clyde Simms, Stephen King, Austin da Luz, <span>Blake Brettschneider</span>, <span>Joseph Ngwenya</span>.</p>
<p><b>Full <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stumptownfooty.com/">Portland Timbers</a> Starting Lineup: </b><span>Troy Perkins</span> (GK), <span>Lovel Palmer</span>, <span>Eric Brunner</span>, Mamadou Danso, Rodney Wallace, Eric Alexander, <span>Jack Jewsbury</span> (Captain), James Marcelin, <span>Diego Chara</span>, <span>Kenny Cooper</span>, <span>Kalif Alhassan</span>.</p>
<p><b>Available Portland Timbers Substitutes: </b><span>Jake Gleeson</span> (GK), Mike Chabala, <span>David Horst</span>, <span>Steve Purdy</span>, <span>Brian Umony</span>, <span>Jorge Perlaza</span>, <span>Bright Dike</span>.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/10/19/2501548/d-c-united-vs-portland-timbers-ben-olsen-makes-three-changes-toSamuel Chamberlain2011-10-19T18:00:22-04:002011-10-19T18:00:22-04:00D.C. United Vs. Portland Timbers: Season On The Line At RFK
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<p>D.C. United must win to keep their playoff hopes alive as they face the Portland Timbers at RFK Stadium. </p> <p>D.C. United have picked the worst time to go on a four-game losing streak, as chance after chance to climb into the MLS playoff places has gone begging. As a result, the Black-and-Red face a very stark reality tonight against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stumptownfooty.com/">Portland Timbers</a> at RFK Stadium: Win or be officially eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth straight year. It's that simple.</p>
<p><b>Portland Timbers (11-14-7) at D.C. United (9-12-11)</b></p>
<p><b>When: </b>8:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 19 (rescheduled from August 27--postponed due to Hurricane Irene, original tickets still valid)</p>
<p><b>Where: </b>RFK Memorial Stadium, Washington D.C.</p>
<p><b>TV: </b>CSN</p>
<p><b>Team News and Tactics</b></p>
<p><b>D.C. United: </b>Ben Olsen started <span>Josh Wolff</span> as the lone true striker in Saturday's 2-1 loss to Chicago and did a like-for-like swap by replacing Wolff with <span>Charlie Davies</span> with just 10 minutes to go. United have nothing to lose by going all-out on Wednesday, so I'd look for Wolff and Davies to start up front with <span>Dwayne De Rosario</span> dropping back into a playmaking role in the center of midfield. Along the backline, look for Olsen to keep the same four starters as Saturday, with <span>Brandon McDonald</span> and <span>Daniel Woolard</span> forming the center back partnership as <span>Ethan White</span> continues to recover from a left MCL strain.</p>
<p><b>Portland Timbers: </b>Portland sit two points ahead of D.C. United in the standings and thus the stakes for their season aren't quite so high tonight. However John Spencer's team has been bitten by the injury bug at a very inopportune time. <span>Darlington Nagbe</span> (right knee injury) and <span>Sal Zizzo</span> (left knee strain) are both listed as out tonight, which means that <span>Jorge Perlaza</span> will likely come into the lineup to replace Nagbe alongside <span>Kenny Cooper</span>, and <span>Rodney Wallace</span> will take the place of Zizzo in midfield.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/dc-united/2011/10/19/2500794/d-c-united-vs-portland-timbers-season-on-the-line-at-rfkSamuel Chamberlain