MLS capsules

D.C. United needs to defeat Dallas, hope for help to earn improbable playoff spot.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Wednesday, September 18, 2002) -- After a 3-0 loss in New England on September 11, D.C. United's Major League Soccer playoff chances seemed to have expired. However, after two dramatic victories over the MetroStars, United is still not officially dead.

With each team playing its season finale by Sunday, three playoff spots remain open with eight of the 10 MLS clubs making the postseason. The Los Angeles Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes, Colorado Rapids, Dallas Burn and Columbus Crew have already qualified.

United, which played in the first four MLS Cup title matches, winning three, but has compiled the league's worst record in the three seasons since, needs to defeat Dallas at friendly RFK Stadium tomorrow night, then hope for help to miraculously sneak into the playoffs.

The 7:30 p.m. (ET) match will be televised on ESPN2

With a victory, United's season would continue if the MetroStars lose in New England Saturday while the Kansas City Wizards fall at the Colorado Rapids Saturday or the Chicago Fire lose at home to the Columbus Crew Sunday

Dallas needs to defeat United and see Colorado lose or tie on Saturday to gain home-field advantage in the already established quarterfinal playoff series against the Rapids.

Dallas Burn at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Venue: RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Records: Dallas 11-9-7, 40 points, fourth overall; D.C. United 9-13-5, 23 points, 10th overall.
Television: ESPN2
2002 head-to-head: Dallas won 2-1 at home on April 6.
All-time head-to-head: Dallas leads series 10-7 with United holding 34-31 advantage in aggregate goals. Top scorers: Dallas - Forward Jason Kreis (13 goals, 4 assists, 30 points); United - Midfielder Marco Etcheverry (3-7-13).
Did you know? Kreis is looking to break out of his worst scoring slump of the season, going five games without a goal while recording only one assist over that span.
Injuries, absences: Dallas - Defender Paul Broome (red card suspension), D Ryan Suarez (red card suspension); F Ronald Cerritos (right knee surgery-R), Goalkeeper D.J. Countess (right shoulder surgery), D Chris Gbandi (right knee surgery) are out; United - F Jaime Moreno (strained right quadriceps), D Ryan Nelsen (sprained right medial collateral ligament), D Brandon Prideaux (caution points accumulation) are out, , D Ivan McKinley (strained right Achilles tendon), F Santino Quaranta (abdominal hernia surgery) are questionable.
Notes: The Burn is already certain of a playoff spot and a quarterfinal series against the Colorado Rapids, but needs to win and get help to get home-field advantage. Meanwhile, D.C. United must win and get help just to make the postseason. . . With a pair of consecutive victories over the MetroStars and three wins in its last four outings, United is still battling after seemingly beingout of it weeks ago. Even with a victory, D.C. needs a loss by the MetroStars in New England and a loss by either Kansas City (at Colorado) or Chicago (at home versus Columbus) or the season will be over. Dallas trails Colorado by two points for home-field advantage in their upcoming playoff series. The Burn must win and hope the Rapids lose or tie at home Friday against Kansas City. . . United will be boosted by the return of regular defender Milton Reyes and midfielder Richie Williams from suspension, but loses defender Prideaux, who was outstanding in Saturday's 2-1 dramatic decision over the MetroStars, because of accumulated caution points. . . Dallas loses flank defender Broome and Suarez to red-card suspensions. Particularly with Reyes' ability to attack, this could provide United an advantage.
The final whistle: These two teams come into this game riding different waves. United is on a high after winning three of its last four games while Dallas, once a candidate for the Western Conference title, has dropped four of its last five games. The Burn will need decisive play from its veterans to snap it out of the funk and derail the suddenly determined United.
Scheduled officials: Referee - Ricardo Salazar; Assistants - George Vergara (senior), Steven Taylor (junior).