With the top spot in the in the Eastern Conference already clinched, D.C. United must now await the end of the regular season in order to find out who will be the club's first round opponent. The Chicago Fire and New England Revolution have secured spots in the playoffs, while the Columbus Crew have already been eliminated. That leaves only the New York Red Bulls and the Kansas City Wizards fighting for the fourth and final spot in the conference. The winner will receive the prize of being United's opponent in the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series.
Currently, New York and Kansas City are tied in points at 35. Each has two games left to be played in the regular season. Both teams play this Saturday against Western Conference teams. Kansas City will take on Chivas USA at home while New York will travel to face the Colorado Rapids. No matter what happens this weekend, the two teams' playoff hopes will ultimately be decided in a head-to-head matchup in their final regular-season game. That match will be played in New York on Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Should the Red Bulls and the Wizards finish the season tied in points, the tiebreaker will be decided by head-to-head record. New York currently claims the upper hand in this with a 1-0-2 record against Kansas City. It's feasible that the Wizards could tie the Red Bulls in both points and head-to-head record at the end of the season, should K.C. win the season finale. The playoff berth would then be determined according to team overall goal differential.
New York and Kansas City are again very close in this stat at -1 and -2, respectively. Should they also end up tied at the end of the season in this category, the next tiebreaker would be total goals scored. Kansas City is up by two here, with 39 goals scored to New York's 37.
No matter which of these teams comes out on top, the Black-and-Red's first-leg game of the first round will be played on the road on Oct. 21. If they play against New York, the game will be played at 2 p.m ET. Should Kansas City end up being United's opponent, the game is scheduled for 8:30 p.m ET. The second leg will then be played at RFK Stadium on Oct. 29 at 6 p.m ET (
Tickets
). D.C. has fared well against both of these teams this season, as United earned a 2-0-2 record against the Red Bulls and a dominating 4-0 record against the Wizards.
United Builds
On Sept. 28, D.C. United's United Builds initiative helped out at So Others Might Eat (SOME - www.some.org/). SOME is a community-based organization that aids poor and homeless people in Washington, D.C. Approximately 10 D.C. United staff members volunteered at the event, helping to serve lunch to about 350 homeless.
In over a year of service, United Buildshas been part of D.C. United's community service arm, working to build a better Washington D.C. community.
The program achieves this goal by volunteering within the community at different locations and organizations. D.C. United staff and players, along with their families and friends, participate in the volunteer activities. United Builds is planning future activities with The Dinner Program for Homeless Women and Bread for the City.
Alternative training
Beginning Tuesday, the D.C. United coaching staff implemented a water-training workout, which features regeneration, flexibility and aerobic exercises done in a swimming pool. This alternative style of training, which the team will continue on Tuesdays throughout the regular season and into playoffs, is designed to get the team off their legs for a day, while still getting their heart rates up.
Supporters' Shield presentation
Prior this Saturday's home game against the New England Revolution, United supporters will present the team with its third MLS Supporters' Shield. The Supporters' Shield, which D.C. United claimed following FC Dallas' 3-1 loss to Columbus last weekend, is an award given to the MLS team that finishes the regular season with the most points. Winning the 2006 Supporters' Shield includes a berth in the 2007 CONCACAF Champions' Cup, an tournament D.C. won in 1998.
Perkins chat
On Thursday, United goalkeeper Troy Perkins will join espn.com for a web chat in advance of the team's game against the Chicago Fire next weekend (Oct. 15). Perkins will take fan's questions beginning at 2 p.m. ET. Click here to access the chat >
