League-leading D.C. United host a playoff-chasing Chicago Fire outfit this Saturday evening at RFK Stadium, but the Black-and-Red hope to match Chicago's urgency with a focus on several pursuits of their own.
The Supporters' Shield is almost within their grasp, but any failure to pick up maximum points in the next two weeks could see it slip away. After Thursday's scoreless draw at Dallas, Chivas USA are just two points behind United in the overall MLS standings.
Like D.C., the rojiblancos have built an impressive home record (the two clubs have easily been the league's most successful in their own stadia this season) and will enjoy their final two matches at The Home Depot Center. United insist that they are paying no attention to Chivas' exploits, though, and coach Tom Soehn is quick to point out that his team controls its own destiny.
"What matters is worrying about ourselves," said defender Devon McTavish. "It's all we can do."
Lurking just a few points further back are United's Eastern Conference rivals from New England, who can still grab the top playoff seed if D.C. stumble. All in all, it's a markedly different picture from last season, when United had the Supporters' Shield sewn up with two weeks remaining and coasted into the playoffs on a three-game losing streak that clearly took its toll in the postseason.
"Obviously first place [in the East] hasn't been determined yet, and we're chasing first place in the league," said striker Luciano Emilio. "So if we play well in these last two games, hopefully we can win and that will give us motivation and will carry us into having a good playoff series."
Another source of excitement: a brand-new, high-tech field at RFK Stadium. The patchwork surface necessitated by baseball's Washington Nationals is now a thing of the past, replaced by a pristine turf blend with a synthetic mesh base for rapid drainage, and soon the venerable stadium will be able to boast permanent, international-style goals as well.
"Yeah, it looks great," said Soehn. "It's going to be nice to come back to a soccer field that's soccer-specific. They've done a good job laying the turf and it'll be great going into this last stretch with the field like it used to be. ... It's going to be awesome, probably the best field in the league."
The team trained on the new field on Friday and gave it high marks. Harking back to the club's previous period as sole RFK residents from 1997 to 2004, midfielder Ben Olsen is anticipating a boost for all parties.
"I think it's come at the right time, before playoffs -- not only for us but for other teams," he said. "They want to come in here and play on a real field, we want to play on a real field, and the fans want to see a soccer field. And that's what they're going to get. I can't wait to get back to that and hopefully it'll bring us some luck like the old days."
There are also several D.C. players in contention for individual honors which may well be determined by their performances in the coming weeks. Troy Perkins' steady work between the posts has put him in the frame for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, while Emilio's breakout season could earn him Newcomer of the Year, or even Most Valuable Player, plaudits. The Brazilian is also within striking distance of Raul Diaz Arce's club record of 23 goals, set in 1996, though he continually downplays such talk.
"First and foremost is that I play well so I can help the team," said Emilio. "It's not a priority of mine, the individual awards. Obviously if I have an opportunity to get some individual awards while I'm playing well and the team is playing well, then I'll welcome that. But it's not a priority of mine."
For Emilio and his teammates, the Supporters' Shield remains the top concern. The honor is more than just another trophy for United's considerable collection -- it's a ticket to the international competitions that have become a vital measuring stick for the club.
"I think we know the job that we need to do," said Olsen, "and it starts with a hungry Chicago team that needs this win more than us, as far as standings and getting into the playoffs. But it's important for us to view it as a crucial game, to get back to CONCACAF [Champions' Cup]."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
