WASHINGTON -- A 1-0 first-leg loss to Chicago in their Eastern Conference semifinal showdown has left D.C. United with plenty to work to do in Thursday's series decider, but the Black-and-Red are working to balance the urgency of the moment with the need for grace under pressure.
United have yet to win a match this month and their playoff scoreless streak against the Fire has now run to 540 minutes. But there's little sign of panic around RFK Stadium this week as players and coaches prepare for the must-win game that could define their entire season.
"It's the playoffs," said head coach Tom Soehn on Monday. "If you can't win your home games, you don't deserve to be there. Through the rest of the games, if you don't win, you're not going anywhere. It's no pressure any different than any other playoffs, or any other international series. We have to win."
Last week's setback at Toyota Park was by no means disastrous for D.C., especially given their injury woes at the striker position. But frustration still lingers at the nature of Chris Rolfe's 14th-minute goal.
"A mistake early on in the back was unfortunate -- it kept us on our toes a little bit," said defender Bryan Namoff. "It was a great situation for them, it was terrible for us, and that's how the playoffs turn out to be. You have to be mistake-free, because one little chance like that can hurt you. And it has hurt us."
United produced a much improved second-half performance, though, dominating possession and probing the Fire defense throughout -- yet rarely tested Matt Pickens in the Chicago net.
"I think we actually played all right -- we played better that game than when we played against Chicago and Columbus the last two games of the season," said midfielder Clyde Simms. "But unfortunately we made a mistake early in the game and gave up a goal. We've already talked about some things we can do better to help create more chances."
A Monday film session has helped call attention to several tactical areas United believe are ripe to be exploited. Though hesitant -- for obvious reasons -- to delve into too many details, Simms pointed to two such shortcomings from Thursday night.
"A lot of times we had opportunities to switch the ball," he explained. "We had the chance to do so and we failed. We kept the ball on one side, keeping the play predictable. They commit a lot of numbers, with the formation they play, to one side so we have to work on switching the ball. I think it will open them up a little bit more -- and getting some more crosses in [as well]."
United also recognize the importance of maintaining composure despite their escalating postseason rivalry with the Fire. The series opener unfolded with a tense, testy mood that simmered throughout and D.C. are prepared for their adversaries to go to great lengths to unsettle them at RFK.
"They like to be a little bit in your face, get you off your game with all the extras outside of soccer," said Namoff. "But we can't get into that type of game. We need to just establish ourselves and not really retaliate on some of that outside distraction -- pushing, shoving, trash-talking."
In Chicago's last playoff game in Washington in 2005, C.J. Brown sealed the series for his team when Christian Gomez spat in the defender's face with the Fire already 3-0 up, drawing an ejection for Gomez that forced his team to finish a man down.
"They have some players that try to provoke some of our players. We know it going in, so I think there were a couple times [last week] where guys did a good job of keeping their heads," said Simms.
"No one was getting red cards, because they have some guys that know what they are doing. Two years ago, they got Christian with that and got him sent off. It's always a fun game, playing a little bit more physical, but if we just keep our heads and don't get into that silly stuff, then I think we'll be fine."
Soehn seems prepared for Thursday's match to go right down to the wire, and expects his charges to maintain their poise and organization.
"Like always, it's a 90-minute game and you take one at a time," said the D.C. boss, "and make sure that no matter what happens, you stick to your game plan and see out the instructions."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
