COLUMBUS -- In a game with everything on the line against the Columbus Crew, D.C. United could not get the ball across the goal line despite a dominating performance Sunday and their 1-0 defeat at Columbus Crew Stadium put the New York Red Bulls into the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Needing a victory against Columbus to secure the last playoff spot in the last game of the MLS regular season, D.C. hit the framework three times during a scoreless match then watched Crew midfielder Brad Evans lace a strike from 30 yards that nicked the inside of the left post and continue to the back of the net in the 77th minute.
Kansas City's win Saturday against New England wrapped up fourth place in the Eastern Conference and simplified D.C.'s mission: win or go home. D.C. was trying to usurp New York for the final playoff position and a move to the fourth slot in the Western Conference to meet two-time defending MLS champion Houston.
Just prior to Evans' winner, Thabiso Khumalo, who had been on the field three minutes, missed a prime chance to give D.C. the lead. The ball was on his foot six yards in front of the goal after a mad scramble from a corner kick. His powerful strike on the turn hit the crossbar, came down in front of the goal line, then was cleared.
Columbus was luckier. Evans took a pass from Frankie Hejduk with a clear run straight toward goal. He got behind the ball with his left foot and drilled it past a diving Louis Crayton. The ball glanced off the inside of the left post and moments later Crew fans were chanting "No more playoffs" to D.C. and its supporters.
The Crew received the Supporters' Shield for having the most points in the league in a postgame ceremony. United won it last season but a 2-11-2 road record was one reason it did not qualify for the postseason.
D.C. outshot the Crew 19-10 and had four of the six attempts on goal.
United coach Tom Soehn made two changes from the lineup that beat New England Oct. 16. Bryan Namoff started for defender Gonzalo Peralta and midfielder Fred went in for forward Thabiso Khumalo.
Columbus finally returned to a full lineup after fielding less than half its starters in a 3-1 loss at New York on Oct. 18 that ended a nine-game unbeaten streak in its first match after clinching the Supporters' Shield.
William Hesmer returned to goal after sitting for the first time in 49 matches. Defenders Hejduk and Chad Marshall, midfielders Robbie Rogers and Eddie Gaven and forward Alejandro Moreno also reclaimed spots in the first XI.
Luck was not wearing United's white uniforms in the first half as they twice hit the left post and could not get the ball to bounce into the goal.
The second opportunity came in stoppage time when Luciano Emilio was sent through and forced goalkeeper Hesmer to challenge for the 50-50 ball at the right edge of the penalty area. Emilio got there first and took several dribbles before bending the ball toward the open goal. He missed scoring by inches as the ball smacked the pipe to end a frustrating 45 minutes for United.
D.C. nearly struck first in the 13th minute when Bryan Namoff was unmarked six yards off goal to receive a corner kick from the right from Marc Burch. Namoff's header from the near post whistled past Hesmer before finding the far post and falling away.
The visitors played like a desperate team with aggressive play at both ends, taking the only four shots and both corner kicks through 33 minutes. The Crew finally got a shot when Chad Marshall headed a free kick by Guillermo Barros Schelotto but it was deflected out of bounds.
United dominated everywhere but the scoreboard in the opening half with 10 of the 13 shots and the lone one on goal by Emilio in the 18th minute. D.C. led in fouls, 7-3, and had the game's two cautions.
Columbus didn't test Crayton until the 52nd minute when Brad Evans sent a low liner from 35 yards that was easily stopped. A minute later, Burch was issued a yellow card for a hard tackle on Guillermo Barros Schelotto and in the 54th minute forward Jaime Moreno replaced McTavish, a defender, to start D.C.'s final push for the playoffs.
Moreno was alone when the ball rolled to him at the top of the box but his strike went over the crossbar in the 60th minute. Fred was on target four minutes later from 18 yards but Hesmer did not have to move to make the save. In an exchange of forwards, Khumalo replaced Francis Doe for D.C. in the 70th.
The Crew was attired in all black at home for the first time this season instead of its traditional yellow. They are 1-1-1 in the dark uniforms.
The Crew will travel to Kansas City to take on the Wizards on Sat., Nov. 1 in the first leg of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
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