D.C. United has eight-regular season games left after losing in heartbreaking fashion in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals to Columbus on Wednesday. The knockout tournament was the team’s last chance to accomplish anything of significance this season, which means D.C. interim coach Ben Olsen has to do something no coach likes — lower the bar as far as possible.
“I don’t want to be in last place when all this is said and done,” Olsen said. “That’s the goal, to make sure we’re not in last place by the end of the season.”
With the team’s on-field fate essentially decided, concerns over the state of the franchise and its future will move front and center over the coming weeks. As part of United’s season-ticket campaign for next season, on Saturday team president Kevin Payne will conduct the first of four question-and-answer sessions with season-ticket holders before each of D.C. United’s final four home games.
Inquiries about the team’s endless and frustratingly quiet pursuit of a stadium — whether it’s in Baltimore or the District — will take as much precedence as questions over the poor track record of player signings the last three seasons. The results of a Maryland Stadium Authority feasibility study for a Baltimore soccer stadium should be released in the coming weeks, and the outcome of this month’s elections in Washington and Prince George’s County may also play a role in the timing of any announcement of the team’s long-term intentions.
Getting caught up in what might happen won’t help United (4-15-3). For now, exacting quick revenge on the Crew (12-5-5), who in a scheduling twist return to RFK for the second time in three days, is a start.
“When you have four wins, there’s going to have to be a lot of change [in the offseason],” United defender Devon McTavish said. “As players, we understand that, and we’re trying to get better as a team and still trying to get results to prove that we don’t want to get shipped out.”
