Well, it was a dirty game with tons of fouls (obviously I felt that the Colorado Rapids perpetuated a lot of them), but DC United found a way to solve the Rapids (in response to getting upset in Denver a couple of weeks ago). There was Jaime Moreno with another gorgeous goal. There was my boy, Dema Kovalenko, in just about every play. There was a banged up Cristian Gomez sucking up a bogus yellow card (and will now be unavailable next week due to two straight yellow cards in two straight games). Santino Quaranta was fantastic, too. DC United prevaled, and are definitely on their way to the playoffs again.

The Eastern Conference playoff race is one of the most intriguing playoff situations since 2002. With a 5-4 win over NE today, the Metros now have 40 pts. after 27 games. Ahead of them, currently 4th in the East and clinging to the last playoff spot is Kansas City, whose 2-2 tie with LA gives them 43 pts. after 28 games. The teams are tied head-to-head- 1 win, 1 loss, and 2 draws for each. Ahead of these two, DC United and Chicago are not out of reach from either team.

This should be a fun last couple weeks...

BTW- in 2002, the final playoff spot wasn't determined until the last weekend of play, when a Metros loss on Saturday night and a Chicago win vs. Columbus saw Chicago enter the playoffs over the Metros and DC United.

The same day that my Yankees clinched a playoff spot (Saturday) in baseball, DC United also clinched a playoff spot by defeating the Metrostars 4-1. They looked like crap in the first half as they went into the locker room down 1-nil. However, whatever coach Peter Nowak said to the guys apparently worked, and they responded with four unanswered goals!

Stupid DC...

KC lost however, which still leaves the Metros 3 pts. back with a game in hand. A loss in Chicago on Weds. will end the season pretty much.

LET'S GO METRO!

Well, with two matches left, DC United is getting closer to catching New England with United's 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake last night. Metro, you must be seething with the Metrostars blowing that golden opportunity last night and only coming up with a point in that tie to Chicago. This gets Chicago in the playoffs now, too. So one spot remains in the East. With the Wizards up by two points in the standings, will it be Kansas City or the Metrostars?

FINAL TWO MATCHES FOR BOTH TEAMS:
Kansas City: New England (home); Dallas (away)--both very tough teams.
Metrostars: DC United (away); Chivas USA (away)--Chivas could be an easy three points.

Saturday is government appreciation night at RFK Stadium and I could have gotten 25% discount on seats to the Metrostars/DC United game. But, I will be in New Jersey. DC United always does these things when I am planning on going out of town.

While I am never happy to see my DC United (whom had already locked up their playoff spot last week) go down, it has made for interesting finish in the Eastern Conference. With the Metrostars getting past DC 2-1 last night and Kansas City tying their match, there now is a tie between the Metrostars and the Wizards for the final playoff spot. Both teams have 44 points going into the last week of the regular season.

With a Metros win against Chivas USA, the Metros will head to the playoffs if KC ties or loses against FC Dallas. A tie in LA means FCD must beat the Wizards for the Metros to get to the playoffs. A loss for the Metros hands KC the playoff spot.

It doesn't get much more emotional than this...

A 2-2 draw for Kansas City left the Metros in need of a win on national TV today against Chivas USA.

After a shaky first half during which Tony Meola played the game of his life, Michael Bradley, son of recently fired coach Bob Bradley, scored the opening goal of the match. In second half stoppage time, Amado Guevara chipped the Chivas USA keeper for a 2-0 win. In between, the teams had 4 shots off posts and the crossbar, and the Metros were really on their heels for part of the match.

An absolutely AMAZING win in one of the most intense games I've ever watched gets the Metros their third straight playoff appearance, and leaves Kansas City on the outside looking in for the first time since 1999.

I was an exciting match. If they keep that level of play up, they just may take the title this year.