GUTTED

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D.C. United left stunned by stoppage time collapse vs. Fire
DC coaches and players fail to come up with an explanation for crushing loss


WASHINGTON – In the span of five minutes, a sense of relief was quickly replaced by utter dejection for D.C. United.

In need of three points to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive, D.C. took a 1-0 lead in the 90th minute over the Chicago Fire, and just stoppage time separated them from a massive win in the chase for the postseason.

But as has happened so often this year, their lead was not secure even for a few stoppage time minutes. Two quick-fire strikes from the Chicago Fire left D.C. United reeling for their fourth straight loss. D.C. now has to win their final two matches and hope for help to secure a wild card berth.

“I’m gutted, absolutely,” a subdued Ben Olsen said after the game. “It’s one of the toughest losses I’ve ever taken.”

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/10/15/dc-united-left-stunned-stoppage-time-collapse-vs-fire

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De Rosario: Missing playoffs again "tough to swallow"
Four-time MLS Cup winner misses out on postseason for third year in a row


WASHINGTON — For most of the second half, it was quite clear that D.C. United midfielder Dwayne De Rosario wasn’t operating at 100 percent. With pain in his right shin, he labored through the final 45 but still managed to score in D.C.’s 1-1 draw with Portland.

“I’ve actually been kicked in the same spot about three games in a row now, and at halftime I didn’t think I would be able to make it,” he said after the game. “Sometimes you just have to suck it up and play for your team and that’s what I tried to do.”

But it wasn’t enough. The result eliminated United from playoff contention, and De Rosario took that consequence personally.

“Another year for me that I’m not going to make the playoffs,” he said. “It’s tough to swallow, to be honest.”

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/10/20/dcs-de-rosario-missing-playoffs-again-tough-swallow