Consistency is of pinnacle importance to a team's success at the highest level of club soccer. Unfortunately for D.C. United, finding consistency and keeping it has been this season's significant challenge. After dropping three points on the road to the New England Revolution midweek, the squad had alternated wins and losses in their previous five matches. On the plus side, their opponents on Saturday night were their Western Conference mirror image - the Colorado Rapids......

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup may not have the allure of its English counterpart, the FA Cup, but it's still one of the oldest competitions in the world, now in it's 94th year (out-dating the main cup competitions in both Germany and Italy by years). But even though it's fun and unpredictable cup football, when one of the notable claims to tradition of the tournament is the triple victories achieved in 1980, 1982, and......

A string of Superliga losses followed by one of D.C. United's worst showings of the year against Houston left the second half of the season somewhat in doubt. Which D.C. United would show up for MLS' crucial home stretch? The confused squad that started the season 2-7 and lacked any form of cohesion, or the offensive dynamos that ran roughshod over their MLS opponent en route to a 5-0-1 record preceding the All Star break?......

A power outage at RFK on July 12 left half the stadium in the dark in the middle of a D.C. United game. Tonight's United game has been postponed due to another outage. At least this time it didn't occur halfway through the match. Due to a power outage surrounding RFK Stadium (yes, that's right, another one), tonight's D.C. United match against the Houston Dynamo has been postponed until tomorrow evening. According to the......

Facing a must win situation against an opponent in preseason form, D.C. United suffered a disappointing 3-2 loss to F.C. Atlante last night. United put forth a solid effort, but was exposed by Atlante F.C.'s efficient counter attack. Atlante's victory relegated United's SuperLiga 2008 hopes to a mere prayer. The SuperLiga pits four MLS teams against four Mexican clubs. The teams are selected based on their performances in domestic league and tournament play during the......

Down 2-1 with Jaime Moreno, the MLS all time scoring leader, coming to the line to take a penalty kick in the 78th minute of their SuperLiga match versus CD Guadalajara, D.C. United had to feel good about their chances of eking out a draw or maybe even a win. Moreno had buried his last 20 PK attempts, a streak lasting over four years, and is about as close to automatic as you can get......

Rising temperatures and high humidity created oppressive conditions during yesterday's match between D.C. United and the L.A. Galaxy. The Galaxy ended up taking the worst of it, with United's attack providing the most unbearable heat. Day games are normally held in the mid-to-late afternoon in order to avoid playing directly under the sun. To maximize exposure, the game was scheduled before the afternoon's European Championship and broadcast nationally on ABC. The game promised two assets......

As if it wasn't enough that key city officials have not been willing to agree to support $225 million in public financing for a new stadium at Poplar Point (they've been holding at $150 million for the last month), City Paper's Mike DeBonis reports that more than a dozen people were laid off from United owner Victor MacFarlane's company last week -- including Linda Mercado Greene, a former top aide to Marion Barry who helped......

D.C. United continued their strong play of late on Saturday night at a rainy RFK Stadium, showing a newfound attacking acumen while dispatching the NY Red Bull 4-1. Luciano Emilio, showing the form of 2007-era Ben Olson, led United's scoring attack with his first MLS hat trick (perhaps he was motivated by the Morelia scouts that were reportedly in attendance?), while Clyde Simms netted a nice long distance strike in the first half. The Red......

Saturday's early game storyline must have seemed awfully familiar to D.C. United. After dominating possession for several stretches in the opening minutes, a momentary lapse of coverage in the defense led to a successful opposing counterattack. To add to the similarities, the protagonist of the counterattack was none other than last Wednesday's lone goal scorer, Danny Dichio. Though United fought back to tie the score, the 6'2" target man added another strike in the closing......

One wonders what DC United Coach Tom Soehn said to his team at halftime. Down 1-0 after dominating possession in the first half, without two banged up star midfielders, but at home against a tough but beatable Chicago Fire team, did he make tactical changes? Did he exhort the players to make the second half a turning point in the season? Did he pull misfiring forward (and reigning MVP) Luciano Emilio aside and give him......

He'd never admit it, but you know that somewhere, sometime before the start of the season, D.C. United coach Tom Soehn looked at his team's busy schedule for the first month of the season, and then said a small bit of thanks for who they were playing. Of their first five MLS games, they were scheduled to play exactly one playoff team from last season. They had home games against perennially struggling Columbus, anemic Toronto,......

Last night, D.C. United had a chance to get their MLS season back on track. They came into the match with a 1-2-0 record in MLS play this season, including a recent 4-0 loss at much-maligned Real Salt Lake. A home date against a manageable opponent seemed to be just what the doctor ordered. Instead, United suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Columbus Crew that left them searching for answers. After experimenting......

In most international soccer competitions, tournament structure calls for a two-game series to decide each round. Sometimes called a home-and-home series, the two games usually occur during consecutive weeks; the week-long break in between games is best considered a seven day halftime separating two 90 minute halves. That D.C. United beat their opponent Pachuca C.F. last night offers scant consolation to their fans. Factoring in Pachuca's 2-0 victory last week, United's 2-1 win last night......

A banner weekend, indeed. The Washington Capitals and Wizards clinched a playoff berth within 24 hours. This week we have another full lineup of Washington area sports, highlighted by a jampacked Wednesday night featuring three local teams playing home games in front of massive crowds. Our picks for this week are below. Go on and add your own in the comments. TUESDAY With all area teams taking tonight off, we suggest you clear your plans......

Many doubts regarding D.C. United's attack were squelched Saturday night. Following a pair of 0-2 defeats last week, United had a chance to start fresh at home. Riding the strength of their high powered attack, they dispatched Toronto F.C. cleanly in front of 20,161 RFK faithful. The result was never in question. United got off to a dream start with two goals in the opening five minutes, and their advantage was solidified when TFC lost......

The Washington Capitals have won eight of their last nine games. Will they be able to maintain their run of form for the final three games of the season? The Caps sit on the edge of the playoffs, though they are on the outside looking in. Their three home games this week should give fans some of the more thrilling moments in recent seasons. What's more, there's plenty of other regional sports action on the......

While much of America is focused on the NCAA Men's Tournament, we are forced to turn elsewhere upon the elimination of our area's three teams. And come on, you know you aren't going to win that office pool your friend pressured you to join. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternative sports viewing options this week. Feel free to leave your own in the comments. TUESDAY The Washington Capitals just won't quit. They've been scrambling among......

The chilly air last night couldn't have made Jamaican side Harbour View FC comfortable in their boots. After D.C. United's second half scoring outburst, the conditions at RFK Stadium must have seemed downright unforgiving. In light of last Thursday's draw in Kingston, each side entered the match needing a win to reach the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal. Despite the need to score, Harbour View held their 3-4-3 formation in a defensive posture the entire......

Another wild week awaits area hoops fans. The madcap, non-stop college hoops action of Thursday and Friday represents the pinnacle of sports viewing for many fans. Sneaking out of work, bracket in hand, for an extra hour of lunch is an annual ritual for many a weary office drone. At this point next week, our brackets will be hopelessly crumbled, highlighted and marked with cryptic marginalia. Right now, however, hope springs eternal. Don't forget to......

Each of the past two years, D.C. United has headed into the playoffs as the number one seed, with a shiny new MLS Supporters Shield in hand for holding the league's best regular season record. Each of those seasons, they've had their top player crowned league MVP. But each of those also ended with a disappointing playoff exit. You'd think a team with that kind of success might want to tweak the lineup a little......

Big story this morning on the longstanding controversy over whether the District wants to help build a new soccer stadium for DC United. The on-again, off-again Poplar Point location for a new stadium appears to be on again in the minds of the Fenty administration. The Mayor is set to announce that he has selected Bethesda-based Clark Realty Capital as the developer of Poplar Point, and the Post reports that Fenty suddenly has in mind......

Our beloved D.C. United may have crashed and burned (again) in the MLS playoffs this season, but life goes on. Also, the playoffs go on -- right in our backyard, in fact. Many moons ago, Washington was picked to host the 2007 MLS Cup this Sunday at noon, at RFK. Time to put aside your grieving and check out the game. Tickets start at $30, maybe even less on Craigslist. When else are you going......

Washington has a ton of good things, but also a lot of problems. One we often hear about is a general lack of customer service in some local businesses — sometimes people are slow, rude, forgetful, or a combination of the three. We've seen it all over, from fancy joints to Mickey D's, but it seems to be worse here than elsewhere on the East Coast. Somebody could make a lot of money by renting......

For 25 minutes, D.C. United attacked the Chicago Fire unrelentingly. They poured all of their efforts forward, creating chance after chance. In the process, they scored the two goals they needed to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. Unfortunately, United's disjointed play during the preceding 70 minutes allowed Chicago to tally two goals of their own, earning them the 2-2 tie, the 3-2 series victory on aggregate, and a ticket to the next round.......

D.C. United's MLS season is on the line tonight at RFK Stadium (7:30 p.m.). After a dominant regular season that saw United go 10-2-3 at home, they return to RFK for possibly the last time this season. Standing in their way is their playoff nemesis, the Chicago Fire. In 5 total playoff games against the Fire, D.C. has yet to score a goal. United will need to find net if they wish to move on......

The press ahead of D.C. United’s first round playoff clash with the Chicago Fire last night leaned heavily on D.C.’s poor record against the Fire, especially in recent playoff history. A lot of it also talked about Chicago’s big signing, Mexican national team veteran Cuahtemoc Blanco. And to some extent, there was some talk about D.C.’s injured stars, Jaime Moreno and Luciano Emilio. Both players picked up injuries in United’s completely meaningless season finale last......

This was not exactly the weekend that D.C. United was hoping for. A 3-2 loss to the non-playoff bound Columbus Crew closed out United's MLS regular season and snapped United's unbeaten streak (dating back to July). Worse yet, United lost their two star strikers, Luciano Emilio and Jaime Moreno, to foot injuries. With last night's Fire victory over the Galaxy, United were assigned the Thursday night time-slot against a Fire team that might be......

The Post's David Nakamura says some Maryland officials would like to lure D.C. United across the border. Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, noting the derailed talks between D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and D.C. United owner Victor MacFarlane, wrote a letter to the Maryland Stadium Authority asking them to look at snagging United for themselves."In the wake of these developments, I would strongly urge the Maryland Stadium Authority to meet with representatives from the United to learn......

D.C. United played out a relatively dull and featureless 0-0 draw with the Chicago Fire on Saturday night, but the real celebrations would come on Sunday night. The Colorado Rapids scored in the final minutes to pull out an upset over Chivas USA, 2-1, making D.C. United the first team to ever successfully defend the Supporters’ Shield. It probably wasn’t the stylish way United will have wanted to take the regular season crown, but with......